Guess who’s coming for dinner?
Oscar Munoz and his wife, Dr. Christie Caceres Munoz, invited me to share a meal with their good friend Dr. Chantel Taylor. Sharing a meal with others is the perfect gateway to common ground. While enjoying the chicken Marsala that Oscar prepared, we discovered that we are more alike than we are different. Regardless of our diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, we share the desire to give and grow in Olney.
At times, the actions of “outsiders” are misconstrued because judgment is made without ascertaining a person’s motives for doing what they do. After sitting at the dinner table in the Muñozes’ gorgeous home, I had a front-row seat to see how their passion pushes them to add value to our community.
Oscar has been an entrepreneur for most of his life. As an entertainment promoter, he has worked with celebrities and gained a working knowledge of marketing and business operations. He begins with the end in mind and takes immediate action to make his dream a reality. We witnessed this in his recent battle with the City about alcohol sales. (Refer to articles published in Olney Enterprise Feb. 18, 2021, and March 11, 2021.)
Dr. Christie moved here a couple of years ago after accepting a job at Hamilton Hospital. She is dedicated to rural medicine and is familiar with small-town living, having grown up in a small town in the Republic of Peru. She said the people convinced her to move to Olney because of the way they welcomed her on her first visit.
Dr. Chantel is not only a doctor who enjoys practicing rural medicine but also a matchmaker. Oscar and Christie met because of Chantel. The mutual friends traveled to New Orleans to attend a WWE event, although Oscar is not a wrestling fan.
“We met on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I knew I was going to marry Christie within an hour of meeting her,” Oscar said. Christie and I literally wrote out our life plan in that first moment of meeting.
Oscar said he is looking forward to raising children in Olney and plans to reside here indefinitely. He said he closed his business because he chose to move to Olney to support Christie’s medical endeavors.
“Every business I’ve opened is still open and successful. I want to help build a stronger community while leaving a legacy for our children. That is what the American dream is about,” Munoz said.
With growing popularity on a renowned social media platform, Oscar has ruffled feathers on his quest to be a voice for the people.
“I don’t make excuses; I get stuff done. People think I am going to open a business and leave. That is false. I want to be part of this community and raise my kids here,” Oscar explained.
With plans underway to move forward with a business, Oscar has been busy with his next business venture that will not be a liquor store. Although the City rescinded the ordinance that prohibited him from opening a liquor store within 1,000 feet of the school, he said he might open a liquor store in the future. However, now, his goal is to build another business that serves the community. His plans may include opening the steak house restaurant he dreamed of opening when he first applied for the liquor license.
Faith, family, and friends are part of the core values in the Munoz household. I enjoyed the delicious meal that Oscar prepared. Most importantly, I enjoyed conversing with a group of people who share my excitement about the limitless possibilities in Olney.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Colossians 3:13