Evencio Sanchez believes that the American dream can be found here in Battle Creek, and he should know. He’s been living it for nearly 30 years.

Sanchez, 56, is the owner of Mexicali restaurant in Lakeview, a family eatery that has been a local favorite since 1983.

“Since I was a little boy — just 8 or 9 years old — I always wanted to have my own business,” Sanchez said. “When the opportunity came, I took it.”

Born in South America and raised on his parents’ coffee farm in Colombia, Sanchez is the youngest of 12 children.

He and a sibling moved to the United States. Sanchez and his family live in Kalamazoo, and his older brother lives here in Battle Creek.

“It’s nice having family so close,” Sanchez said. “I’ve had a chance to see my nephew grow up.”

Sanchez attributes his success in the United States stems to the education he received in South America.
“It was rigorous and strict,” Sanchez said of his Colombian education. “We had fun, too — I played a lot of soccer — but my parents made sure that school was our first priority.”

Sanchez said that it wasn’t ambition or education, though, that brought him to the United States.
“It was love,” he smiled.

While at the Universidad Inca de Columbia, Sanchez met his future wife, Margaret, with whom he has three sons.
“She was a student at a nearby school,” Sanchez said. The pair married in South America and moved to the United States to continue their education.

Sanchez and his wife attended The Ohio State University.

Sanchez earned a degree in systems engineering while his wife studied microbiology.

It was her career that led them to West Michigan.

“She took a job with Upjohn — Pfizer now — so we moved to Kalamazoo,” Sanchez said. “She is still working there.”

After moving to Kalamazoo, Sanchez commuted to his job in Grand Rapids, but was soon laid off, finding himself in the position to spend more time with his children and try out a new career.

“I got involved in real estate,” Sanchez said. “And that’s when I decided to open the restaurant.”

Mexicali opened on May 13, 1983, serving authentic Mexican food, following treasured Sanchez family recipes. Once one of three restaurants owned by Sanchez, only the Columbia Avenue location remains in business.

“We had one across town and one in Kalamazoo, but they are closed,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez, who is involved in local commercial real estate and business, said that he has always felt welcome in the Battle Creek community.

“Being a business owner allows me to meet a lot of people,” Sanchez said. “I have always been comfortable here — less shy.

“It’s a nice place to work and a really nice place to raise a family.”

Sanchez believes that over the past 10 years, Battle Creek has seen a rapidly growing number of Hispanic people move to the area, and that while it’s important for newcomers to immerse themselves in the community, it’s also important for longtime residents to learn from Hispanic culture.

“I am a big believer in individuals and their rights,” Sanchez said.

“If you believe in rights for every individual, and see people as individuals, then you eliminate racism.

“As Hispanics, our dream is to come here and be successful,” Sanchez said.

“We are in the country where dreams come true, and I think that’s happening here. I know it has for me.”