A welcoming atmosphere, a family business and the tastes of San Juan can all be found in one of Gainesville’s newest food trucks, El Punto.
The creation of Guillermo Gonzalez Sr., a 52-year-old army veteran, El Punto started about three months ago and has been serving food across from a CVS parking lot, at 1621 SW 13th St., from Friday to Sunday since the first week of January.
The menu was inspired by traditional dishes served on the beach fronts of Puerto Rico and includes empanadas, pinchos, alcapurrias and more, Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez, who works for the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, said he was inspired by his mother, Maria Virginia Ramos, 73, who sold spices in Puerto Rico. He decided that he wanted to start a business doing something he loved.
He said he noticed that no one else in Gainesville was making authentic Puerto Rican food and felt that El Punto could fill that void.
“I wanted to bring something that is not around here,” he said. “Things that make you homesick. This is very cultural food.”
His son, Guillermo Gonzalez Jr., 22, started helping him run the truck this month. He said that lots of their customers try their food and tell them how much it reminds them of home.
“They get tired of chain restaurants, McDonald’s and stuff, and as soon as they see a food truck they get pretty excited,” Gonzalez Jr. said.
With the aftermath of Hurricane Maria heavily affecting Puerto Rico, Gonzalez Jr. believes that El Punto will have a positive impact on the community.
“We’re trying to bring stuff up and get people to know about Puerto Rico,” he said.
While the Gonzalez family does have plans to eventually expand to a storefront, right now they’re focused on building their presence.
“We are going to different festivals and stuff,” Gonzalez Jr. said. “Getting our name out there.”
They were recently invited to participate in Newberry’s First Food Truck Festival on Jan. 6, he said.
Along with their culinary skills, the Gonzalez family have another talent. Gonzalez Sr. taught his family to play plena drums, round-hand drums used in traditional Puerto Rican music, he said.
For customers that eat at El Punto on their birthdays, the Gonzalez family will bring out their drums and sing “Happy Birthday.” They’ve done this twice since opening, Gonzalez Sr. said.
Gonzalez Sr. believes that a family atmosphere is a very important part of his business and strives to include his customers in that.
“That’s one thing you see when the customers come. We just have a good time as a family,” he said.
Guillermo Gonzalez Sr., 52, gives a thumbs up in front of his food truck, El Punto, at Newberry’s First Food Truck Festival Jan. 6. Courtesy to The Alligator
