PORT NECHES — Rosa Sanders tears up whens he speaks of her brother Roberto Ortiz and how he helped her achieve her dream of restaurant ownership.

Sanders came to America from Nicaragua at the age of 19 and the first job she landed was at Casa Ole. She spent 18 years in the business, 12 of those as general manager working at the various restaurant branches in the area. In 2004, she and her brother opened a janitorial business and began saving money.

“He said he wanted my dream to come true,” Sanders said just prior to the ribbon cutting of Las Rosas, which she co-owns with Ortiz.

Soon Sanders, a longtime Groves resident, and a Real Estate agent perused the area and stumbled upon a former restaurant that was for sale located at 1021 Magnolia Ave., in Port Neches.

“We drove by and saw this,” she said. “It was like God told me this was the place.”

The Rev. Andres Prichard of Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont, left, Port Neches Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Plaia and Tamara Gonzalez, converse during the ribbing cutting for Las Rosas, 1021 Magnolia Ave., in Port Neches on Thursday.
Mary Meaux/The News

Las Rosas officially opened in July 2015 and serves what she called Tex-Mex cuisine.

“We prepare the food ourselves. It’s more homemade here,” she said, adding she uses her own mix of seasonings.

Members of Port Neches Chamber of Commerce and city dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the event and sample some of the food as well as Sanders’ margaritas.

Leanne Winfrey, one of the locals at the festivities, had already dined at Las Rosas before Thursday.

“I love the cheese dip, it’s my favorite here,” Winfrey said. “I also love the cheese enchiladas with gravy.”

Winfrey also likes the convenience of a restaurant so close to home, she added.

A scene from the ribbon cutting at Las Rosas, 1021 Magnolia Ave., in Port Neches on Thursday.
Mary Meaux/The News

Port Neches Mayor Glenn Johnson, who has also dined at the eatery before, thanked sanders for choosing Port Neches as the site for Las Rosas.

As attendees mingled and snacked, Jonathan Roque, 17, provided musical entertainment.

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