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Julio’s Grill owner grateful for family on Father’s Day


Kimberly Rubio

Assistant Editor

Julio Valdez is at his happiest when he shares a meal with his family, which isn’t surprising given the fact that he, like his father before him, owns a restaurant.

Valdez is the owner of Julio’s Grill at 501 S. Getty. His father, Pedro Valdez Sr., was the original owner of Los Alamos, now owned by Julio’s brother David.

Pedro and his wife, Antonia, moved to Uvalde from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico in 1975. They have six sons, Pedro Jr., Raul, Mario, Marco, Julio and David.

Julio and his wife, Veronica Valdez, have four sons, twins Jesse and Sebastian Cabralez, and Christian and Dominik Valdez.

As to who showed him the ins-and-outs of the restaurant business, Julio credits his father with teaching him how to prepare fine cuisine, and his mother with showing him the business aspect.

“My dad taught us how to cook, shared his recipes. My mom is a businesswoman. They work well together,” Julio said, noting his parents opened Los Alamos in 1993.

“My dad is a hard worker. He is quiet, doesn’t talk much and always worked without complaint. He did whatever he could to provide for us. Growing up, we were poor, but it didn’t feel like we were poor. We had food, clothes and we were loved,” Julio said.

As part of a work program, Julio said he was allowed to leave Uvalde High School at 11:30 a.m. to help out at the restaurant.

“When I was a senior, I would leave high school early and wait tables, help my mom and dad out,” Julio said.

After graduation, Julio worked at Los Alamos for a while before the opportunity came about to purchase the 501 S. Getty St. building. He opened Julio’s Grill in 2002.

Julio said that, as a young man, he wasn’t always the best father. He credits God and his wife for the man he is today.

“I started going to church and realized I needed to be a better father, husband, son. When I found God, I realized the person I was before didn’t matter. All that mattered was the person I chose to be going forward,” Julio said.

He didn’t have to look far for the perfect example of a loving husband, father.

“My dad is real loving. To see the way he loves my mom, it melts my heart. What more could I ask for?” Julio said. “My dad is a good dad.”

Julio said he hopes his own sons are as equally proud of him. When asked if any of his children plan to follow in his footsteps, Julio said his twin sons share an interest and already work alongside him.

“Dominik from the very beginning said he didn’t like the restaurant business. I told him it was OK,” Julio said. “I told him to go to school, start a career. As long as he is doing something and he is happy.”

“He is one of the most amazing fathers,” Veronica Valdez said. “He not only has provided for and raised his two biological children, but he raised the twins and has loved them no differently than his own. He has been a great role model to all of them. Along with that, he took in my nieces and helped with providing them a home, a family, a father figure and financial stability.”

Veronica said her husband has a heart of gold.

“He jokes that Ashley, our niece, is the daughter he never wanted,” Veronica said, laughing. “…He has such a heart of gold. He truly defines what a father should be in every aspect. He is a man of God and will do anything for his children.”

When asked what the best part of being a father is, Julio said it’s sharing a meal with his family.

“When we are hanging out at the house, sitting at the table,” Julio said. “It is the best feeling you can have. I feel proud.”

He did just that on Father’s Day – first, he had a luncheon for his wife’s father, Jesus Ramirez, and later, he had a dinner with his own father.

“For now, I don’t want to celebrate me. I want to celebrate my dad and Veronica’s dad. Right now it is about our parents, while they are still with us,” he said.

(The story does not continue beyond this line.)

Julio Valdez (third from left), his wife, Veronica Valdez (center), with their sons and niece, Ashley Gonzales. (Uvalde Leader-News photo by Kimberly Rubio.)

Julio Valdez (third from left), his wife, Veronica Valdez (center), with their sons and niece, Ashley Gonzales. (Uvalde Leader-News photo by Kimberly Rubio.)

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