Chances are, if you walk into the newly-opened Green Ranch in Austin, owner Jose Rivera will shake your hand, welcome you and ask about your day.

“When I am here, I am not the staff; I am the customer,” said Rivera. “I see things through the customers’ eyes. To me, the customer is everything, the most important thing. I treat them like kings and queens, you know?” he added with a chuckle.

Located on the site of the former Donut Connection at 507 First St. NW, the Green Ranch is open and serving up its signature doughnuts, coffee, ice cream and soup. In just a few weeks, Rivera will add tacos, enchiladas and burritos to the menu board.

On this day, Rivera is greeting each of his customers, offering coffee and trading jokes.

“People have been very accepting of us and that has been very good,” Rivera said. “I believe they really enjoy it.”

Serving others has been something of his hallmark since arriving in the U.S. several years ago. The Honduras native served as a teacher in his home country before traveling to the U.S. and earning his citizenship in 2001. He has served as a success coach for the Austin School District, worked for Wells Fargo, but was intrigued by owning a business. He and two other out-of-state owners joined to create the Green Ranch LLC. Rivera also owns the Green Ranch that will soon open in Albert Lea, next to the local movie theater, he said.

The business name came from his love of Minnesota, he said.

“The ‘green’ came to mind when I thought of northern Minnesota, which is so green and so beautiful. ‘Ranch’ is kind of like a farm and there are a lot of farms around here, so it all fit together, I thought.”

There is a staff of five that to greet you at the Ranch. In addition to Rivera, there is baker Jay Miller, as well as Jenny Greenlee, Dixie King and Juanita Gomez.

“They are all great to work with,” he said.

Hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Hours will be realigned if needed, at a later date, he said.