From a phone call to a restaurant. 2 friends & family will open new Mexican spot in Perry

Close friends Jazmin Esparza-Ortiz and Alma Valencia, along with Valencia’s family, are gearing up to open a new Mexican restaurant in Perry.

Cozumel Mexican Grill is at 1365 Sam Nunn Blvd., Units H and I, in the Perry Marketplace anchored by a Kroger. It’s the same shopping center where a Wingstop recently opened.

The business partnership includes Valencia’s husband, Angel Canul, daughter, Gloria Canul, and Valencia’s brother, Noe Valencia.

They hope to open the new restaurant in the next two to three weeks if all goes according to plan.

‘Let’s go for it’

Alma Valencia and Esparza-Ortiz first got to know each other when working at another Mexican restaurant about 10 years ago. Esparza-Ortiz later became the godmother of Valencia’s daughter.

About a year ago, the two friends were talking on the phone and Valencia shared that she’d like to expand and open another restaurant. She asked about the Perry area. Valencia is a co-owner of the popular Sol Azteca Mexican Grill in Warner Robins.

Excited, Esparza-Ortiz, who lives in Perry, told her the city would be a great location, noting the Perry International Festival, the Georgia National Fair and other events the city is known for, and asked to be included in the venture. Valencia was delighted.

“Then we look and we look and finally this business opened up,” Esparza-Ortiz said of the former Shane’s Rib Shack space becoming available. “She (Valencia) said, ‘Let’s go for it. This is our chance.’“

So they did.

The restaurant space has been undergoing a remodel in preparation of opening, including removal of a large ordering counter, construction of a long bar and the addition of new restaurant furniture.

Family & friends

Esparza-Ortiz will be full-time at Cozumel Mexican Grill. Valencia plans to work the first month primarily at the new restaurant and then she, her husband and daughter will be back and forth between Cozumel Mexican Grill and Sol Azteca Mexican Grill. Her brother is expected to join them later at the new restaurant after finishing a previous commitment.

“When you have a restaurant with your family and friends, you get to help one another because you already have a base of understanding,” Valencia said.

Esparza-Ortiz chimed in, “You learn from everybody. Maybe somebody’s really good in the kitchen.

“Another one is really good at talking to people, and another one is really good at managing. So why not? Let’s get together and build something really good.”

Valencia loves to cook, while Esparza-Ortiz enjoys serving customers. But they all can fill in where needed.

The cuisine

The name Cozumel Mexican Grill was chosen to reflect both the Mexican cuisine they’ll be serving as well as new island dishes from Cozumel, a Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea.

“We are bringing something that people are already used to eating like fajitas and things like that but also we’re bringing new dishes, like seafood dishes, that are not in the area right now,” Esparza-Ortiz said. “So, we’re kind of excited about that.”

An example of a Cozumel inspired dish is chilaquiles Mexicanos, she said.

The dish was described in the developing menu as a bed of corn chips covered in cooked green salsa or red salsa topped with lettuce, raw onions, cilantro, avocado and queso fresco and served with grilled steak, two fried eggs and black beans.

Another dish is ceviche made with whiting, a fish, red onions, celery, cucumbers and avocados, Esparza-Ortiz said.

The restaurant will feature a full-service bar, including beer, margaritas and cocktails. The space can comfortably accommodate about 125 people.

Hours are expected to be 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 6:00 AM.