Julio Cano

Partner / Chief Business Officer

Born and raised in Mexico City, Julio moved with his family to Illinois in 1996. He had his first experience working in a restaurant at Tia Maria’s, the Mexican restaurant that Ricardo (his stepfather) had taken over more than a decade earlier in Geneva, Illinois. Here he gained hands on experience at almost every kitchen and FOH position in the restaurant, something that would come in handy some years later.

After graduating from Northern Illinois University in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration, Julio landed a job with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, where he held different managerial positions in the marketing and communications department. In 2005 he moved to Spain, where he earned an MBA in Sports Management at Real Madrid and a Sporting Director Certification from La Real Federación Española de Futbol. After graduating in 2007, he was hired by Chivas USA of Major League Soccer in L.A., where he moved up the ranks in the Soccer Operations Department, becoming Director of International Scouting & Assistant GM. Julio decided to leave his career in the sports industry in 2012 when presented with the opportunity to move back to Illinois to help his family with their growing restaurants. His administrative, managerial, marketing and business background helped them expand from a single restaurant to a multi-unit restaurant group by implementing new business practices across all areas of the restaurants.

Julio has been an integral part in developing new concepts and plays an important role in the overall vision of the group.