Just down the street from the Banning Civic Center is a bright orange building with the words La Villa Burgers emblazoned across the front. The restaurant has become a mainstay in Banning since owner Ulises Davila opened it in 2017 after more than two decades working in restaurants.
“I am from a town in Jalisco called Villa Purificación,” Davila said in Spanish in an interview with The Riverside Record. “So the first thing that came to my head was to name it La Villa Burgers, because I had already worked in hamburgers.”
When Davila first came to the United States, he found work at Tom’s Burgers in Huntington Park. After 16 years there, he left to go work at his brother’s chain of stores, El Mercado Don Juan, before being able to start his own restaurant.
“My first year was quite hard, quite difficult,” Davila said in Spanish in an interview with The Record. “Everyone had money except me. I had enough to cover my expenses, but I didn’t have a salary.”
Now, with three restaurants across the Inland Empire and roughly 30 employees total, Davila has found his place in the Banning community, hosting an annual free dinner the day before Thanksgiving, supporting local high schools, youth sports, public safety and even other local businesses.
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In April of this year, La Villa Burgers was named Business of the Year by the Banning Chamber of Commerce.
“La Villa Burgers isn’t just a place to grab a delicious meal, it’s a hometown favorite that continues to bring people together and represent the heart of our city,” the chamber said in a social media post. “We are honored to celebrate their success and the positive impact they’ve made.”
As for Davila, he said he was surprised, and a little nervous, but mostly proud of what he’s been able to accomplish since immigrating to the United States.
“I feel proud of myself for coming to a country where I wasn’t born, but that has so many doors for anyone who wants to work hard,” he said.
La Villa Burgers is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 374 E. Ramsey St. in Banning.
Dispatches from Riverside County is a semi-regular feature where The Riverside Record highlights local businesses that make Riverside County what it is. If you know a business that you think should be featured, email publisher Alicia Ramirez at Alicia.Ramirez@RiversideRecord.org.
Freelancer Daniel Eduardo Hernandez contributed to this report conducting the interview with Ulises Davila in Spanish.
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