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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
If you haven't had the opportunity to eat at El Matador Restaurant and meet owner/operator Artoosh (are-too-shhh) Hasratian (has-rah-tea-un), you're missing out. Everyone from top business leaders to his youngest diners come to see this unique Utah restaurateur. The kids get a free package of M&Ms. In one week he gave out almost 600!
Artoosh is originally from Armenia, and he came to Utah in 1960 to join his brother who was going to school in Logan. While in Logan, a prominent businessman told him that he was too talented to work for someone else so he needed to do his own thing. At the time there were no Mexican restaurants in Ogden, so he opened El Matador.
Business was going so well that Artoosh wanted to expand. He planned to go to Salt Lake City, but he happened to be driving in Bountiful one day, and it just clicked for him. He knew it was where his restaurant should be. That was in August 1976 and he opened El Matador in Bountiful on May 1, 1977.
It's been a lot of work over the years; however, Artoosh says even with occasional hurdles, it's been great every day at his restaurant. This place is hopping on Friday and Saturday nights with diners from all over the Wasatch Front coming to El Matador. In fact, Artoosh does 50 percent of his business on Friday and Saturday nights alone.
He says he never could have been so successful without the support of his wife, Rosemarie. She's never worked at the restaurant, but he says her support at home raising their four children made it possible for him to work as hard as he needed in order for El Matador to take off. Even after 53 years in business, Artoosh still puts in 80 hours a week. And his youngest daughter now works at the restaurant with him.
At El Matador in Bountiful, Artoosh believes in taking care of his customers and making sure everybody leaves happy.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
El Matador Restaurant 606 South Main St. Bountiful, UT 84010 1-801-292-8998
