Luis, co-owner of Fire Up Grill in Riverside, first stepped into the world of restaurant service as the first Hispanic bartender at Riverside’s historic Mission Inn. After years of service, Luis left the Mission Inn and was hired by the former local nightclub and restaurant, Sevilla. It was around that time that he came up with the idea of launching his own business.
Luis invested in a Waba Grill, but quickly became frustrated by the managerial limitations franchise restaurants have. Luis began to chat with the owner of another Inland Empire food service favorite, Mr. Taco. At the time, a new location ideal for a grill, was opening downtown which caught Luis’ eye.
“We submitted our application and everything went through,” Luis says. “Ever since then we’ve never looked back.”
As business plans were put in motion, Luis acknowledged that launching a grill and bar from the ground up was going to be a huge task. “I’ve always wanted to do something, but I never knew how hard it was. When you dream of something, you don’t always think about all the little details.”
A year and a half into running Fire Up Grill from its current location, Luis and his business partner faced numerous challenges, especially from the city. Strict city codes and unexpected financial hits pushed back their launch date by over a year. In March, when the pandemic hit, the restaurant faced new complications. Despite the challenges, Luis is able to see the positives that come from each obstacle. The pandemic pushed the restaurant to start to-go and mobile orders, which they had never done before. Covid-19 regulations also created a new era of community involvement for the grill.
“Right off the bat when Covid-19 hit, we closed for two weeks,” Luis says. “But, before we started up again, I wanted to give back to the hospitals, the police and the Riverside Sheriff (Department). So, we donated a lot of food to them.”
The Fire Up Grill team also invested into the building’s infrastructure, adding more seating to their patio, adding tents to protect against the elements, and putting up new decorations for a warmer environment.
Looking back on how he got to where he is at, Luis considers the difficult journey a blessing. Despite the initial hurdles, the restaurant is seeing their best year-to-date. As the business continues to grow, Luis is contemplating new ideas for the future. A long-term dream of his is to open new locations downtown in neighboring cities.
On a bigger picture level, Luis has even considered running for City Council. The idea came after seeing how divided the city has been since the pandemic hit. “We need leaders,” he says. “Change starts from the top. If we work together, honestly, Riverside can be the number one city in (the Inland Empire). We have everything it takes, but we need to unite the division.”
As for other aspiring entrepreneurs and other individuals looking to invest in Riverside businesses, Luis believes it is worth the challenge.
“Make every night you work worth it,” he says. “Save your money. Keep on chipping away at your goal. The more you work at it, the smarter you get, and the more successful you will be.”
Fire Up Grill is one of many local-owned businesses proving that the city of Riverside is a hub for entrepreneurs and innovators. As the restaurant continues to grow, Luis hopes it will become known as a place of great food and drinks, and even great community.
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View the Fire Up Grill menu for to-go and catering options.
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