Daniel Ramirez has big plans for the future of Ramirez Hospitality Group and its successful Mexican restaurants. Expansion is in the works. More hiring. And dreams of a national restaurant presence beyond the Denver area.
“My plan to stay influential as an industry leader is by not staying complacent,” said Ramirez, the company’s co-CEO. “I love learning and meeting new people. This industry is the industry of endless opportunities. … This Industry is the industry of optimism, personal growth and relationship building.”
Los Dos Potrillos Mexican Restaurant is a family-owned and-operated business located in the suburbs of Denver. Since opening in 2002, Los Dos Potrillos has grown to four restaurant locations, one brewery and two food trucks. The full-service restaurants average $6 million in gross sales per year, and there are plans for a new location in 2023.
Ramirez has worked in the family-owned business since 2015, focusing on business development and operations. He established a corporate structure, created a human resources and compliance department and formed an ongoing professional development program for management and staff. Ramirez has overseen social media and promotion efforts to increase sales and brand awareness. He also spearheaded the opening of the first Mexican restaurant and brewery in Colorado, Los Dos Cerveceria.
The pandemic forced some changes, and Ramirez helped shift to express service and launch a new food truck that projects to do $500,000 in sales this year.
“It is my goal and vision to continue growing and expanding our family restaurant, not only in Colorado but in other states as well,” he said. “I want to continue leading Los Dos Potrillos in becoming a well-known national brand.”
Ramirez, 29, is the youngest member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Rocky Mountain and the Colorado Restaurant Association. He is also the youngest Hispanic chair elect for the Colorado Restaurant Association.
Ramirez is also a cancer survivor. Diagnosed with Stage 1S testicular cancer on April 21, 2021, he had an orchiectomy followed by three rounds of chemotherapy, which he finished in August 2021. Along with his other endeavors, Ramirez’s goal is to normalize frequent cancer checkups for men, because early dedication is critical. During the month of November, he changed the design on all his top selling beer cans to testicular cancer survivor stories to create awareness.
Ramirez and his wife, Malorie, have a two-year-old son, and in their free time enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.
“Being young and eager to always keep growing, we sometimes forget the most important things in life, like family, faith, health and others,” he said. “When you can spend time with your family, you spend that time and enjoy that moment. When you can spend some time on your well-being you take it and enjoy it. When you can spend time with friends and family, you soak that time up and remember those memories. Whatever you have going on in your business, if it can wait, let it wait. At the end of the day, seek the business venture all the way through, but don’t let it consume you, and just remember to take it one step at a time.”
