IF YOUR TOES ARE TAPPIN’ AND THE FOLKS ARE LAUGHIN’, ONE THINGS FOR CERTAIN, OUR MOJO’S WORKIN’
Our Story
Launched in 2009, Mojo's is the concoction of life-long restaurateur Rondo Fernandez. With a name and ambiance inspired by Rondo’s love for blues music, Mojo's offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience delighting your mind with blues music, feeding you larger than life portions, and treating your soul to a great time amongst family and friends.
Rondo’s passion for the restaurant business dates back to his childhood, when is mother would bring him to work with her in restaurants. His father emigrated to the U.S. from Cuba, which instilled Rondo with the deep-down love of the Cuban cuisine you’ll find peppered throughout Mojo's menu alongside Cajun-style dishes and savory recipes he perfected while working in Florida restaurants.
Judging from Rondo’s passionate community activism throughout the Ocala area, you would think he’s lived here his entire life, but he was actually born in Atlanta and raised in Miami before moving as a teen with his family in 1990 to Big Scrub in the Ocala National Forest. He attended Lake Weir High School, and he grew to love the tight-knit community. Rondo took an interest in the hospitality industry, completing culinary school at Lake County Vo-Tech while working full-time as a server.
Rondo had to try a few recipes for business success before finding that special Mojo flavor. Rondo took a leap of faith in July of 2009 to open Mojo's, a small 12-table restaurant in downtown Ocala. With an expansion due to increased demand, Mojo’s hospitality brand has grown to four large locations throughout Marion and Lake Counties, employing hundreds and serving thousands through their core values of family, fun, food, and community.
Ocala is home for Rondo and wife Toby, with four children, Amber, Ronnie, Soriana and Cane (whose names can be found on our menu). One scripture sums up Rondo’s mantra: “For those who have been given much, much is to be expected” (Luke 12:48). Rondo’s wholehearted faith inspired him to build a business with a focus on being a blessing to the community and his team. Loving on the community is what Rondo is most passionate about and he and his team serve with a strong passion for giving back to the community. He credits his team with the success and impact that Mojo’s has been able to have.