The story of
Tortillas Blanco actually began in the 1940’s at a
cotton gin in southeastern Texas. My grandfather Lynn Headrick,
his father, and brothers operated a gin in Corpus
Christi, Texas.
During
cotton picking season migrant Mexican workers would come
to work. It was during that time my grandfather learned
the Spanish language. Later on, my grandfather began
preaching and had an interest mission work in central
American countries. He built strong relationships with
the Hispanic people and enjoyed working with them.
Moving forward to the 1980’s…My grandparents Lynn and
Mary Faye Headrick raised me and allowed me
opportunities that I otherwise would not have
experienced. My grandfather would take me on his mission
trips. Those trips not only allowed me to experience
great food, but also another culture, a different way of
life from here in the states. The people there called
me, “Marcos Blanco” and I enjoyed my Spanish name.
The
combination of the experiences remained an important
part of my life.
I have always been business minded. I was an
entrepreneur at the ripe age of 7 operating an ice cream
stand on our street in downtown Athens. My grandmother
would make the best chocolate syrup. Some of the local
boys and myself built a cart and we would roll it
through the streets selling kool-aid.
In 1998 my grandfather passed away. I was 18 years old.
I had continued to visit my friends in Mexico even after
my grandfather’s death. As an 18 year old, just like
many of my peers, I really didn’t know what I was going
to do with the rest of my life. So, the search began.
Several years went by, 7 years to be exact, of not
finding what I was interested in doing.
During
that time I married a beautiful girl from Russellville
named April Green. Now, it was really time to buckle
down and find my way. I was becoming very discouraged
and frustrated going from job to job. Until one day,
while driving down Florence Blvd in Florence, AL, it hit
me! Not a car, but an idea, an idea to make that
wonderful bread I remembered as a young boy, tortillas!!
The work began of developing the concept. Little did we
know how much work would take place, but we did it.
Today, Tortillas Blanco is a restaurant located on
Market street in Historic downtown Athens and a chip
manufacturing company located in North Town Athens. We
currently have 7 employees including myself and April.
We are definitely staying busy!
Thanks to the work of everybody involved with Tortillas
Blanco including our customers I was given the honor of
business man of the year by the Limestone County Chamber
of Commerce.
We currently have
21 stores on our delivery route; from Florence
to Arab to Bessemer and many in between. Being a small business I am the
delivery guy. Things are happening and growing.
We were featured in Southern Living Magazine in May 2008
and the Alabama Department of Agriculture newsletter in
May also.
I can’t help but think about that young man working at the cotton gin in
East Texas, learning Spanish, and making this young man
a part of his life and leading me to the place I am at
today.
Store Location:
Stop by and visit our new store front eatery
location:
113 W. Market Street - Athens, Alabama 35611
Call - 256-230-2330
You can purchase our famous "Blanco's Plain & Cinnamon Chips"
in Grocery stores.
For a complete list click
here
Our hours
are:
Monday - Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday
10:30AM to 4:00PM
Wednesday 10:30AM to 4:00PM
Friday - 10:30AM to 4:00PM
Directions to the Athens location:
Hwy 72 to Jefferson - north to Market Street
(North side of
court house)
on right just before the railroad tracks.
Visit our
Blog at
www.tortillasblanco.blogspot.com
& visit
www.delmoredays.com.
We are a proud Member of The
Athens/Limestone County Chamber of Commerce
Site
maintained by
AthensPlus.com
