- July 19, 2025
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Since first opening in 2013, Tacos & Tequila Cantina has expanded from its original location in south Naples to four Southwest Florida restaurants, with a fifth currently under construction in Cape Coral. And with a new partnership, more growth is forthcoming, in both the Tampa Bay area and central Florida.
But as the Tex-Mex restaurant business has grown, some things have stayed the same, like its popular two-for-one margaritas special offered on Tuesdays and Sundays.
“That has not changed since we opened,” says founder and CEO Kelly Musico. “We want to make it affordable for people.”
Musico believes that affordability factor has contributed to the restaurants’ success, especially in recent years when the economy’s been more challenging for consumers. She’s kept price increases to a minimum — even as food costs have risen and focuses more on a la carte menu items rather than large entrees so diners have options when it comes to how much they want to spend.
She’s also worked hard to create spots where people can just enjoy themselves, full of bright colors and custom design elements like hanging star pendants. “I believe in the brand and so it’s fun,” she says. “It’s funky and it’s good food. I’m just really committed and have some really good team members with me. And that makes a big difference, because they drive me to be better and do good…I’m so blessed, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”
The business has about 275 employees across its four locations. (Musico declined to provide revenue figures.) “I really consider our employees like family,” says Musico, who’s in her 50s. “We’ve created a wonderful culture within the four walls [of each location] and within the company itself. I stand behind my employees…I believe in these people.” Case in point: An employee who started out as a busser is now attending culinary school with the help of a scholarship from the business.
Everyone who works 32 hours or more a week is eligible for any benefits the restaurant offers, which includes medical and dental insurance and a 401(k) rolling out soon. And Musico wants staff to see the possibilities of a career, not just a job. “I believe in what we do and want to let the people that work with me know that I want it to be their last job,” she says. “It can be very lucrative and rewarding if you’re committed to it.”
Musico’s commitment to the business will be a crucial element of her future growth plans. She’s entered into a partnership with HMC Hospitality Group (the original founders of Hooters) to open a location in The Villages and another in Pinellas County. The group first approached her a few years ago. But she wasn’t ready to make the move until more recently. (A separate entity from HMC, Hooters of America, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March; HMC and another company agreed to a deal in April to buy more than 100 restaurants belonging to Hooters of America and operate them as Hooters Brand Management.)
“We’re very like-minded,” she says. “They come from old-school hospitality, and I really valued that in them. We’re going to do this venture together and see how it goes.”
Tacos & Tequila Cantina had previously partnered with the Naples-based Hoffmann Family of Cos. starting in 2020, led by Naples entrepreneurial icon David Hoffman. But that arrangement came to an end.
“We had a great partnership, but we decided to part ways,” says Musico. “I wanted to grow in the hospitality industry and open more restaurants, and David was more focused not on the hospitality industry but on bigger, larger corporate companies. It was a mutual decision. I learned so much from him, and I will be forever grateful for our partnership.”
Beyond the locations being opened by HMC Hospitality Group, Musico is also looking at spots in the Fort Myers and Sarasota areas for additional restaurant locations she would run. When it comes to franchising, she says “never say never,” but she’s not sure about giving up that much control.
“I want to know that things are done like we do it,” she says. “I don’t want anything to change. I don’t want the quality to change; I don’t want the culture to change. I feel strongly that with the staff we have, we can grow with some of those people and provide opportunities for people who are with me to have their own stores. That’s my thinking right now.”
Commitment and passion will be her driving forces as the business grows. “It’s about staying committed to the process and not changing the quality,” she says. “It’s about not cutting corners and being consistent.”
Giving back to the community is also important, and she’s done that through her Taco Bout Community Foundation since opening the first location. “It’s so important for me to get behind something and give back; we have to give back,” she says. “When I opened Tacos & Tequila, I said this is something that has to be a part of our culture. I feel like we can’t just constantly take from people; we need to give back.”
She’s also learned that making mistakes is a part of the process. “If I don’t fall, then I can’t get back up,” says Musico. “It’s okay to make mistakes, but I have to learn from them.
“I was really good about beating myself up for mistakes and getting down in the dumps,” she continues. “But you have to be able to go through that storm and come out and stay grounded and committed. It’s easy to get sucked up into the negative, but not anymore. We have tacos to serve.”
