The Dreamiest Coffee Shop & Restaurant

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Luis Hernandez, owner of Pomarosa, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a Latin American Coffee Shop & Restaurant located in Danforth. We’re so excited to be serving up Venezuelan sandwiches known as arepas, empanadas, & sweet treats such as alfajores, all made from scratch. Browse our menu to find quesillo, gluten-free pastries, cocktails, craft beer & take-home items such as our homemade secret sauces, Sloane Tea & Pilot Coffee.

Tell us about yourself

I am a very passionate chef who wants to share a little bit of Latin American culture in Canada. We had been introducing arepas, empanadas, and high-quality drinks to our neighborhood for more than four years, especially during the pandemic time we had helped our customers have a little bit of joy during lockdowns and these very challenging times.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Been able to introduce almost unknown Venezuelan ethnic food in our city. In the beginning, we had to explain over and over what an arepa is, now we have people from all cities coming to try our food.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Being a business owner is so hard. I have been in the Food industry for the last 20 years but owning my own business is very challenging. On top of that, surviving the pandemic had been the hardest thing.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Be realistic: starting a new business and making revenue will take time. Work hard, be patient.
Hire good people and treat them well: customer service is as important as your products. You need a well-trained team who believes in your business and take good care of it.
Keep and increase your quality: In our case, we always want to be consistent with our food and drinks. Always keep or increase your standards.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.pomarosa.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PomarosaToronto/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pomarosa_to/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.