Hundreds of locals and passing motorists turned out last Tuesday for the grand opening of Guzman y Gomez at Glass House Mountains, underscoring the appetite for new hospitality ventures on the Sunshine Coast and marking a major milestone for its first-time franchise owners.
The popular Mexican restaurant officially opened its doors on January 20 at a new northbound service station development on the Bruce Highway, just five minutes from the Glass House Mountains township and a short drive from Beerwah.
From early morning through to the evening rush, long queues snaked through the site as customers took advantage of $5 burritos, free coffee, live music and the novelty of a new drive-thru dining option in the hinterland gateway.
The restaurant is owned by husband-and-wife team Nestor and Lala Unigarro, who describe the opening as “a dream come true” after an eight-year journey with the company.
Mr Unigarro began his Guzman y Gomez career as a crew member and steadily worked his way through the ranks, holding roles including cook, shift leader, restaurant manager, Sunshine Coast operations manager and corporate culinary coach before achieving franchise ownership.
“Dreams come true if you work hard and you prove yourself,” Mr Unigarro said. “I’ve done it with eight years of hard work, and now I’m here. Opening this restaurant is a dream come true.”
Originally from Colombia, Mr Unigarro arrived in Australia 26 years ago during a period of unrest in his home country, initially planning to stay only long enough to learn English.
Instead, he built a life on the Sunshine Coast and now lives in Aura with his wife and their three children.
“This is my home now,” he said. “I wanted to create something that gives back to the community that welcomed me.”
The Glass House Mountains outlet is Guzman y Gomez’s fifth location on the Sunshine Coast and has been strategically positioned to capture both local trade and highway traffic travelling north and south.
The restaurant trades seven days a week from 6am to 11pm, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for dine-in, takeaway and drive-thru customers, with indoor and outdoor seating available.
Beyond the brand expansion, the opening has delivered a significant employment boost to the area.
The team have spent the past six weeks recruiting and training staff, with around 65 to 80 jobs created across kitchen, crew and support roles, the majority filled by locals.
“We are employing mainly people from this area,” Mr Unigarro said. “I want young people to see there are opportunities to grow here, just like I did.”
The build took more than eight months to complete and reflects growing confidence in the Sunshine Coast’s population growth and commuter traffic.
With strong opening-day demand and a steady stream of customers throughout the day, the new outlet signals continued momentum for both the Guzman y Gomez brand and the region’s fast-growing hospitality and tourism sector.
