Large frames line the brightly painted walls of Flame Cantina — I’m greeted by friendly faces in familial scenes: weddings, hearty dinners, and children playing in a town square.
Arturo Mora, the owner, proudly explains the significance of the photos he carefully hung, transforming the commercial space from a restaurant into an experience.
On a rainy morning this past Fall, I met Arturo at Flame Cantina in the early hours before the Ankeny restaurant – tucked in a retail development off Oralabor Road – opened for the day. He offered me the best coffee I’d had in a long while; its delicious aroma mixed with the restaurant’s faint scent of Fabulosa cleaner.
This is where I insert an acknowledgment: Arturo isn’t our typical Bear Trails feature subject. He is not technically an alum of an academic program — nor is he a staff or faculty member.
Yet, our college's web-like influence quietly interwove into Arturo’s journey, just as it does for many others who shape Des Moines’ communities and beyond.
From taking ESL classes nearly 20 years ago to his son now attending DMACC's Boone Campus as a student athlete to opening a restaurant right across the Ankeny campus; DMACC has always been Arturo-adjacent.
Mr. Mora now operates Flame Group, thanks in part to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which helped him grow what started as a family-run taco truck into a fully-fledged multilocation restaurant and catering business.
But long before the taco truck and long before Goldman Sachs (a statewide program administered by DMACC), Arturo's entrepreneurial journey began at the age of fourteen: when he immigrated to the United States alone, starving for success.
Unable to read Spanish or speak English, he started as a dishwasher at Panda Express, where coworkers helped him with schoolwork between busy dinner rushes. Arturo bounced around different restaurants and odd jobs until he found his place at the Cheesecake Factory, where he climbed the ranks and eventually ran multiple locations in Mexico and Central America.
Still, Arturo was hungry for more. He wanted to create something unique for himself: a dining experience that evoked how he felt sitting at his grandma’s dinner table as a little boy.
He started with a simple taco truck.
After two years of running multiple franchises and operating the taco truck on the side, Arturo realized how limited his time was. In 2019, he chose to focus his energy solely on his own business.
“There comes a point when you have to make a decision,” he told me, “and I decided to go all in.”
Arturo’s risk paid off. Within a year of fully committing to the taco truck, sales tripled from $100,000 to $300,000. Flame Group continued to grow, and Arturo eventually found himself juggling three restaurants, two taco trucks, and a catering business.
Amid the challenges of managing multiple business ventures, Arturo sought help. This pursuit led him to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a turning point in his entrepreneurial journey.
“We were all over the place,” he confessed, “Goldman Sachs gave me tools to stay organized, while still pushing me to think outside the box.”
The 12-week program helped Arturo approach his business critically. He received tailored advice relevant to his business and help to develop a customized strategic growth plan.
With every new insight, Arturo became more intentional about his goals. The numbers were rising, but his goal was never expansion.
He admits professional growth means very little to him.
He returns to the scene of him as a kid sitting at his grandma’s dinner table. He remembers her smile, he remembers the way she gently placed the plate in front of him — he doesn’t remember what was on the plate, but he remembers the moment.
Above all, Arturo wants to create a space where families can share unforgettable moments.
“This place provides for so many,” he said about Flame Cantina, the first location he opened after the taco truck, “it’s beautiful.”
People gather, laughter fills the air, and memories linger after the plates are cleared. The fire fueling Arturo’s ambition burns for something deeper: connection.
As I walked out of the restaurant, and thanked Arturo for sharing his story, I looked back at the frames adorning the walls. The warmth of those images, the souvenirs from his life, clearly represented his mission.
“In 20 years, nobody will talk about our food,” Arturo said. “But they’ll remember the moments lived around the table.”
Bear Trails highlights unique journeys of DMACC students, alumni, faculty, and staff, celebrating their diverse experiences and inspiring paths.
Have a story idea? Contact Savannah Eadens, Public Relations & Communications Specialist, at sjeadens@dmacc.edu or 515-675-3275.