Las Marianas Restaurante
Oakland, CA
Rosa Martin, the owner of Las Marianas Food Truck, fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning a restaurant two years ago. She now owns Oakland’s only Guatemalteca food trucks in Oakland.
Rosa has created jobs for herself, her daughters, and two others. To get started, Rosa used credit cards, accruing large interest payments. Her $25,000 microloan from Main Street Launch (then OBDC) refinanced this debt and will be used to purchase equipment and update the furniture that the previous owner included in the building purchase. Her loan will alleviate the stress of high credit card payments and allow her to make the restaurant look and feel like her place.
Rosa says, “I opened my business for many reasons, but the most important thing for me was to be able to employ my family. Working with my two daughters is wonderful. I’m proud to show them that even when it’s hard, ‘si se puede’ – you can do it.”
Rosa originally heard about Main Street Launch through The Unity Council, one of Main Street’s community partners. She connected after learning her accountant knows Adrian Gomez-Zavala, Main Street Launch’s Assistant Vice President – Relationship Manager. Even though the loan process was intimidating at first, Rosa says she felt supported: “The process is strict, but Adrian was great at making sure everything was in order, helping me get my application together, and making sure we were following the law.”
After her initial loan, Rosa’s rent increased and she shifted from a brick and mortar restaurant to her food truck. She came back to Main Street Launch for more capital and for help getting her website launched and for other business advising support. Through Main Street’s Pro Neighborhoods program (supported by JPMorgan Chase in partnership with NCCLF), Main Street Launch helped Rosa develop her plan to grow her catering clients.
If you have never tried a pupusa, this is the place to visit. The photos on their website will make your mouth water. When you’re looking for a family business serving healthy, delicious food, look no further than Las Marianas Food Truck.
