Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Raizk and Freddy Perez.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As long as I have known Freddy he has shared his desire to one day bring his Mother’s recipes from Mexico City to Chicago. Growing up in Chicago Freddy’s passion for cooking was inspired by helping his uncle Bobby in the restaurant where Bobby worked as a chef for many years.
While Freddy’s career path led him into construction he never lost the dream to one day open a restaurant of his own. I have always enjoyed working in restaurants in various positions and I am grateful that I am able to use my experience to help Freddy fulfill his vision. So we decided to go for it and fortunately Freddy’s uncle Bobby agreed to lead our kitchen with his years of experience and knowledge.
Freddy’s sister has also been able to recreate their mother’s authentic recipes and flavors. While we both knew it wouldn’t be easy we believed in our vision and we made a commitment to give it our best every day. So far it has been an extremely rewarding experience for both of us.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I was aware of how unpredictable the day to day operations in a restaurant could be and Freddy’s career in construction also helped him prepare for the juggling act of owning a restaurant. This mental preparation did help to alleviate some of the anxiety that bumps in the road brought. In the beginning, the licensing process was somewhat grueling as there are so many requirements along with a lot of fees of course.
Once we jumped that hurdle we decided to seek out a consultant to help us navigate things such as, choosing food and liquor vendors, finding the best POS system for our needs, designing an effective menu, setting up payroll, hiring employees along with making sure we have the tools to stay in compliance with everything from food and liquor safety to finding the proper insurance. With so much to be done our consultant was able to put us on a “tentative” timeline which was extremely helpful as it was overwhelming choosing what to prioritize on a daily basis.
I would say time management has presented the biggest challenge because our attention and focus is called in so many different directions depending on the various surprises each day brings.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the El Tequilas Bar and Grill story. Tell us more about the business.
El Tequilas Bar and Grill is focused on sharing the passion for the food and flavors of Mexico City. We want to show our guests that when food is made with love and pride the simplicity of fine ingredients can become complex wonderful dishes that bring comfort and joy to the community. We are most proud that we are staying true to our concept of authenticity and giving people an opportunity to discover new flavors that they have come to love and enjoy.
We also have a variety of tequilas and mescals to compliment our dishes. I think what sets us apart is the atmosphere we have created. It is cozy, inviting and friendly. We truly enjoy interacting with our guests, discussing the culture of our food and creating relationships with our neighbors. We want everyone to feel like they are at home when they dine with us.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe that if you consider yourself lucky despite your current situation then good luck will find you. Sometimes we feel lucky as if the stars have aligned to bring us to this point. However, it has more so been a combination of staying positive and persistent, through the misfortunate events life inevitably brings, that make us feel lucky.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2826 N Lincoln Ave Chicago IL 60657
- Website: www.eltequilasbarandgrill.com
- Phone: 872-206-8053
- Email: Eltequilasbarandgrill@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VivaElTequilas/
Image Credit:
Moroni Torres, Emily Harmon, Monique Baker, Maurice Hall
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