On a busy night at Zapata Mexican Restaurant in Palisades, New York, Adolfo Godinez and his wife Angelica move from table to table, greeting customers by name, checking on their meals and pausing to talk.
For many guests, it’s part of the experience. They come for the food, but they return for the family atmosphere and the sense they’re known.
“We love to serve the people,” Adolfo said. “And to get to know them. When they leave happy, that makes us happy.”
That approach has guided the restaurant’s success since its founding in 2004. What began as a small, family-run operation has grown to what it is today on the same idea: treat customers like family, and they’ll come back with their own family and friends.
Built together, over time
Adolfo’s path to becoming a small business owner took many years. He began working in kitchens soon after arriving in the U.S. from Mexico in 1982. He started as a dishwasher before learning to cook and eventually became a chef managing restaurants.
Years later, he and Angelica took their first step toward entrepreneurship when they opened a small grocery store. The business gave them a way to save, learn and prepare for something bigger. That next step came in 2004, when they opened their restaurant in Palisades.
It was a family effort from the beginning. Angelica took on the financial side of the business — managing paperwork, paying bills and keeping operations organized — while Adolfo focused on the kitchen and the customer experience. “She controls everything,” Adolfo said with a laugh. “She’s the money woman.”
Their children grew up in the business as well. Their son works alongside Adolfo full time, while other family members step in during busy periods like holidays and major events. That shared involvement reflects how the business operates each day. Decisions are made together. Responsibilities are divided naturally. And growth is something the family pursues as a unit.
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Always a warm welcome
Adolfo and Angelica founded their restaurant with a simple goal: create a warm, welcoming place where people could gather, celebrate and enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch. Over time, Zapata has become a neighborhood destination for birthdays, family dinners and other celebrations.
Adolfo’s ability to remember customers — their names, their preferences, even past conversations — plays a central role in that experience. “I’ll see someone in the parking lot and say, ‘Welcome back,’” he said. “They’re surprised I remember. But that’s important to us.”
That consistency helped the business stand out in a competitive market. While menus and trends change, the restaurant has built loyalty through something harder to replicate: personal connection.
For Adolfo and Angelica, success is measured more by momentum rather than numbers. They want to grow by opening new doors and creating opportunities for their family. A second location, El Zapata, recently opened in Middletown, New York, taking over the exact building where Adolfo began his restaurant career.
“When I bought the property, that’s when I felt proud,” Adolfo said. “Like we had made it.”
Expanding without losing what matters
As the business has grown, so have its ambitions. The Godinez family has begun investing in real estate tied to the business, like the Middletown location, in a move that provided more stability and long-term value.
That growth required access to capital, along with a banking partner who understood how the business operated. TD became another ingredient in that recipe.
“TD is one of the best banks I’ve worked with,” Adolfo said. “They help me with everything.”
Through loans, operating accounts and day-to-day support, TD has assisted the family in managing both routine needs and larger investments. Just as important, the relationship has been built on accessibility.
For Mike Sullo, Relationship Manager at TD Bank U.S., personal responsiveness is how he cultivates connections with all his clients, especially Adolfo and Angelica.
“They’re so fast-paced in their business that TD needs to be there right away to meet their needs,” Mike said.
A banking relationship that mirrors the business
The way Mike works with the Godinez family how they run their restaurant: personal, direct and built on trust.
“They can call me for anything,” Mike said. “It’s almost like you’re talking to a friend, not a client.”
Adolfo agreed. “If I need something, I call Mike. He takes care of it.”
That connection has been especially important during moments that require coordination, such as financing new locations or organizing multiple business accounts.
TD helped secure financing for the original property more than 20 years ago. More recently, Mike has worked with the family on additional loans, account structures and future planning as they continue to expand.
Looking ahead
Today, the Godinez family operates Zapata with the same approach that defined its early years: steady growth, hands-on involvement and a focus on the customer experience.
Adolfo is already thinking about what comes next — potentially expanding further through real estate investments and new opportunities, with TD by his side. “I want to grow more,” he said. “I want to buy more property.”
Whatever that next step looks like, it will follow the formula that has worked so far: move forward as a family, stay connected to the community and build on what’s already in place. For Adolfo and Angelica, the goal hasn’t changed.
Adolfo’s tips for small business success
- Grow step by step: “Don’t stay in one place. Keep looking for the next opportunity.”
- Build with family: “Working together makes everything stronger.”
- Focus on the customer: “If they leave with a smile, you’re doing something right.”
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