La Cascada Mexican Restaurant of Valley View

Ignatio Patino visited Northeast Arkansas once with his uncle. He was living in Georgia and decided to make the move to the region and work in the restaurant business. He worked in the area for several years and was driving through Manila in 2007 when he noticed a building for sale.

He decided to bet on himself and open his own restaurant. La Cascada was born.

He has since opened four other restaurants. The company has locations in Brookland, Jonesboro, Lake City and Trumann. Despite this expansion across the region, Patino said his most profitable restaurant remains the first one he opened in Manila almost 20 years ago.

The company employs 50 or more workers throughout all five restaurants.