New G.I. Mexican restaurant built on family tradition

Continuing what has become a family tradition, Gracie Diaz de Leon of Grand Island opened D' Leon's Islander Mexican Restaurant on Aug. 15.

The restaurant at 1201 S. Locust St. Suite A is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The telephone number is 384-2010.

Gracie's father, Jose Diaz de Leon of Lincoln, started the D' Leon's Mexican Restaurant chain. He owns three restaurants in Lincoln. He opened his first restaurant in Omaha but then relocated to Lincoln in 2001.

"When he moved to Lincoln, he opened up one tiny restaurant with a drive-through," Gracie said.

From there, she said, her father opened up two more locations in Lincoln.

Then one of Gracie's brothers opened a D' Leon's Mexican Restaurant in Omaha, and she opened the Grand Island location. Another D' Leon's is on the drawing board for Omaha.

"I thought why not give it a try in Grand Island," Gracie said.

Prior to opening the restaurant, Gracie worked for the Grand Island public schools.

While her father had no restaurant experience before opening his first store, she said, "he had a dream about opening the restaurant."

Gracie comes from a big family. She is one of 13 children of Jose V. and Engracia Diaz de Leon, who are originally from Mexico.

"My dad has always been a hard-working man, always trying to give us a good life," she said. "I always remembered him talking about opening up a restaurant. When he finally did, my whole family was there."

But her dad was never the cook in the family, Gracie said. That was the domain of her mother, Engracia, and her other siblings.

Continuing a family tradition, a lot of meals served at D' Leon's Islander are made from scratch and are based on family recipes to give them a more homemade quality, Gracie said.

"At first, they had a menu that came from Phoenix, but then my dad made his own," she said.

The restaurant offers 22 different combination plates. But, Gracie said, the customers can create their own combinations if they prefer.

The house special, Gracie said, is the burritos, which are huge.

Coming from a big family, Gracie understands how expensive it is to feed a family, and she said the prices are very reasonable.

"Lots of people have told me that our prices are too cheap and you're not going to make it," Gracie said. "But I tell them that my dad started with one restaurant but now has many."

The key to her father's success and what underlies Gracie's business philosophy is that slow and steady wins the race.

"Then the customers will be happy with the food because of good quality, good taste and good service," she said. "A lot of people know the restaurant from Lincoln."

Also, all of the family restaurants are open 24 hours per day to accommodate people who work various shifts.

"A lot of people have asked me if it's worth it," Gracie said. "It's been slow, and a lot of people don't know about it, but it's worth it and it will catch on once people know about it."

Opening a new business, Gracie said, there are a lot of long hours and hard work to be done for the restaurant to be successful.

But helping her out and continuing the family tradition are her four daughters, Sheny, 11; Neydy, 10; Stephany, 8; and Marleny, 3. All help out at the restaurant with various chores.

"It's pretty exciting," said Sheny, who cleans tables and handles the cash register. "I'm going to save the money I earn to buy a car."



D' Leon's Islander Mexican Restaurant

Location: 1201 S. Locust St. Suite A

Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Phone: 384-2010