KLAMATH FALLS — Rigoberto Cisneros, owner and operator of Girasol Family Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in
downtown Klamath Falls is marking the restaurant’s sixth year of operations with something fun: giving back to the
community.
And he credits the Klamath Community College’s Small Business Development Center for helping him along the
way.
While six years is not a typical milestone, it is well known that most restaurants fail in their first five years. So, there’s
cause for celebration.
“We wanted this anniversary Tuesday, Nov. 12, to be more meaningful,” said Cisneros. “So, the staff has decided to
go out and create six random acts of kindness to mark the anniversary.” That may include helping out six families, or
six individuals or create six ways to give back to the community, he said.
Cisneros has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. From as early as age 4 he could be found shadowing his father at
restaurants, and by age 9 he was working alongside his father as a bus boy in a family restaurant, while also selling
Mexican candy and other items to his classmates at school.
“I even sold ice cubes to my cousins,” he says with a laugh.
His parents (originally from the Mexican states of Nayarit and Jalisco) have always exemplified a great work ethic
and instilled the drive and determination that has led Cisneros to own and operate Girasol Mexican Restaurant & Cantina since 2018.
“Persistence beats resistance” he says, when asked about his success.
Cisneros opened the business when he was 22 and has put his heart and soul into making it successful. It was
recently voted the best Mexican food restaurant in the Klamath Basin on Yelp, (along with producing the best
margarita).
At 28, Cisneros is ready to create a way to run the restaurant more efficiently, with better operating systems.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems,” he likes to say, quoting author
James Clear from his book, “Atomic Habits.” Clear points out that creating small, frequent habits can have a larger
impact on one’s life and, in turn, one’s business.
“I want to get to a point where I can actually scale our operation,” said Cisneros. “Set up a system, put everything
into scrutiny mode.” In other words, make the operation more cost-efficient and more beneficial for the workers.
“To me it’s about the impact you can make in people’s personal lives,” he said. “At the end of the day, the decisions Imake in my enterprise affects every single person who works with me. I never make a deal that doesn’t take into
account who it may affect. I don’t let go of that, it’s important to help the rest of the community, too.”
What was lacking was the financial savvy one needs to succeed.
“I attended Klamath Community College for one year to try to obtain a business degree. I left a formal education
because the restaurant became my school.”
But he connected with KCC’s Small Business Development Center. He attended the nine-month Small Business
Management Program in 2022 through the KCC SBDC where he was exposed to topics ranging from human resources best practices, understanding his financial statements, digital marketing and how to be an effective leader.
“The SBDC helped me create a business plan, learn the financials. Anyone can start a business in their kitchen, but
you need to know how to run a business if you are to succeed.”
“This program is great for entrepreneurs and managers alike who continue to strive for better output from
themselves and their respected fields. I also enjoyed connecting with other local business owners who seem to
share the same circumstances as myself which further gave me input on how to solve issues or continue the
momentum we’ve built.”
Now 28, Cisneros says he’s still married to the business. He employs 18 workers. And, he’s able to have his sister
run the day-to-day operations while he looks at the bigger picture.
The restaurant, at 430 Main St., is open for lunch and dinners, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Call 541-887-
2282 or visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/girasolfamilymexicanrestaurantandcantina.
For more information about KCC and its programs, visit www.klamathcc.edu.
