1 – Q) Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
A) We are Hecho Restaurants & Consulting. We operate out of northern New Jersey with currently five restaurants. Our goal is to grow and make opportunities for our team.
2 – Q) Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
A) I am Louis Alvarez, a bilingual individual born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and immigrated to the US in 1981 to pursue the American Dream. I graduated from North Bergen High School in 1986. Alex Mendelsohn was born in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. In 2006, he graduated with honors from the University of Delaware, one of the top three hospitality schools in the US. In 2012, we both left Rosa Mexicano and became partners in Hecho Restaurants, a consulting firm. They offer their expertise to develop and expand high-revenue restaurant projects.
3 – Q) What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
A) Louis and I worked in a NYC restaurant for many years as well as other major US cities. We no longer wanted to build great restaurants for other people and wanted to do it for ourselves. We worked at Rosa Mexicano which was a traditional Mexican restaurant and once we had the opportunity to open our own Mexican concept, we wanted anything but traditional. We wanted a Mexican restaurant with no rules or boundaries. Later we went on to acquire Dullboy Bar and then opened Jane Doe both cocktail centric restaurants and offer a unique experience in both.
4 – Q) What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
A) Target an audience, supply the market with a need and execute as strongly as possible on your vision.
5 – Q) What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A) Ability to endure, adapt and operate in a high stress environment with a smile.
6 – Q) How many hours do you work a day on average?
A) 14 hours. Work does not stop just because you are not in your business, it is ongoing. It’s not work if you love what you do.
7 – Q) To what do you most attribute your success?
A) Willingness to hold tight on the vision, not trying to please everyone.
8 – Q) How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
A) Our marketing is all digital and grass roots. The strongest marketing we have is word of mouth from a positive experience as well as using the audience that is in the building.
9 – Q) Where did your organization’s funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
A) Self funded and always stayed that way.
10 – Q) What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
A) Perseverance, unwillingness to compromise.
11 – Q) Where do you see yourself and your business in 5-10 years?
A) Expanding and growing making growth and ownership possible for our team.
12 – Q) Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
A) Not sure at the moment
13 – Q) How important have good employees been to your success?
A) 99%
14 – Q) How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
A) Depends on the idea and execution. Are you breaking even and need more time? Are you losing money? It is not a one size fits all scenario.
15 – Q) What motivates you?
A) Growth and opportunities for our team and my family.
16 – Q) How do you generate new ideas?
A) By discussing things with a trusted group within our team.
17 – Q) How do you define success?
A) By providing a need for the guest and a happy experience.
18 – Q) How do you build a successful customer base?
A) One guest at a time
19 – Q) What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
A) No boss, no rules, no right or wrong way to do something.
20 – Q) What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
A) Growth within our group.
21 – Q) What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
A) You’re willing to take risks and embrace a great partnership
22 – Q) What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
A) We are a guest first culture. What we do is not rocket science nor dangerous, we provide an inviting space to enjoy time with others while eating and drinking.
23 – Q) In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
A) Hustle
24 – Q) If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
A) Nothing, you learn from your mistakes and failures. They make you better.
25 – Q) How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
A) Ups and downs.
26 – Q) What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
A) Failing to support my family and team.
27 – Q) How did you decide on the location for your business?
A) Opportunity and market needs.
28 – Q) Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
A) Hard work and a solid vision while surrounding yourself with a supportive family and team to work with.
29 – Q) If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
A) Norman Rockwell – the artist
30 – Q) Who has been your greatest inspiration?
A) Unknown
31 – Q) What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
A) Lords of Discipline (favorite book)
32 – Q) What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
A) I make mistakes daily. Most are not the biggest mistakes, but they are all equal. Some just have bigger consequences.
33 – Q) How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
A) You can prevent a mistake by doing the work to understand what you are doing to the best of your ability and seeking guidance from others. Damage control is minimizing the consequences of the mistake.
34 – Q) What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
A) Spend time with my family.
35 – Q) What makes you happy?
A) Success and my family.
36 – Q) What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
A) Time with loved ones, financial security. You name it.