Marcos Murillo’s journey to becoming the owner of Tapa the World restaurant in Sacramento started with a stack of dirty dishes.”When you come to a different country, you come here for a reason, for a better life,” said Murillo. At 17, Murillo left Michoacán, Mexico, with little more than a dream. “It was very painful and scary at the same time because you don’t know what you’re going to find,” he said. “I always had a dream to own my own restaurant.”Over the years, Murillo worked his way up from dishwasher to line cook to executive chef, all while pursuing his dream. “I love what I do. So, I had to work harder to get it,” he said.After two decades, the restaurant where he built his career went up for sale. Despite the odds against him, Murillo wanted to buy it. “I met with the potential buyers, and they want me to stay working for them, and I refuse to work for them,” he said.Just when he feared losing everything, his wife surprised him. “She pulled out a 1942 tequila. She was like, ‘Tapa is yours now.’ I started crying,” Murillo said.The owners accepted his offer, making him part of the 38% of Sacramento’s Hispanic business owners. However, just weeks later, the pandemic hit. “I was standing here thinking, I’m done, but my wife told me, ‘You can do this,'” he said.He worked harder to keep his restaurant’s doors open. Today, Tapa the World remains a Sacramento staple. “You have to have discipline in what you do, no matter what you do,” Murillo said.Now, Murillo is serving more than food; he’s serving inspiration, especially for the Hispanic Community.”Hard work pays off at the end of the day,” he said. “That’s the key to opening doors in front of you.”This story was produced as part of our Project CommUNITY special for Hispanic Heritage Month. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Marcos Murillo’s journey to becoming the owner of Tapa the World restaurant in Sacramento started with a stack of dirty dishes.

“When you come to a different country, you come here for a reason, for a better life,” said Murillo.

At 17, Murillo left Michoacán, Mexico, with little more than a dream.

“It was very painful and scary at the same time because you don’t know what you’re going to find,” he said. “I always had a dream to own my own restaurant.”

Over the years, Murillo worked his way up from dishwasher to line cook to executive chef, all while pursuing his dream.

“I love what I do. So, I had to work harder to get it,” he said.

After two decades, the restaurant where he built his career went up for sale.

Despite the odds against him, Murillo wanted to buy it.

“I met with the potential buyers, and they want me to stay working for them, and I refuse to work for them,” he said.

Just when he feared losing everything, his wife surprised him.

“She pulled out a 1942 tequila. She was like, ‘Tapa is yours now.’ I started crying,” Murillo said.

The owners accepted his offer, making him part of the 38% of Sacramento’s Hispanic business owners.

However, just weeks later, the pandemic hit.

“I was standing here thinking, I’m done, but my wife told me, ‘You can do this,'” he said.

He worked harder to keep his restaurant’s doors open.

Today, Tapa the World remains a Sacramento staple.

“You have to have discipline in what you do, no matter what you do,” Murillo said.

Now, Murillo is serving more than food; he’s serving inspiration, especially for the Hispanic Community.

“Hard work pays off at the end of the day,” he said. “That’s the key to opening doors in front of you.”

This story was produced as part of our Project CommUNITY special for Hispanic Heritage Month.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel