Spotlight: La Sirenita
La Sirenita is a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been serving the Portland community for over 25 years. “With the economy being so challenging right now, we’re always looking for ways to keep our prices affordable. We think about those earning minimum wage and want to make sure our food is accessible to everyone,” shared Luis, the current owner of La Sirenita.
How did La Sirenita get started?
Luis: We started in 1994. My father had very little money to start with and the place was very basic. Within a month, he had enough to pay rent. My mother and sisters were the ones working here, so we called it La Sirenita. All the people from my family have worked here at some point — my father, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Now the next generation is working here too — my nieces and nephews. We call it our school.
I started working here when I was 14 and have worked here on and off ever since. My wife and I are now the owners. We are slowly making some good changes and plan to do more in the future. Right now, it’s a bit of a difficult time, but we’re continuing to work hard to make things better.
Как, по вашему мнению, Портленд формирует или влияет на ваш бизнес?
Luis: Portland has a diversity of people. Many different kinds of people come into the restaurant. For example, people from different counties may ask for different types of food, like tongue or beef, and we are able to serve them the type of food they like. Often, many of our customers work in construction, and we like being able to serve them.
Если бы вы могли вернуться к началу, что бы вы сделали по-другому?
Luis: I would have probably kept more of our original seafood menu. But now people don’t think of us as offering that type of food, so it is difficult to bring it back, and we only have the basic seafood options.
Что вам больше всего нравится во владении малым бизнесом?
Luis: I like talking with the customers. For example, just now a woman came in and said she used to come when she was in high school. She now lives in another state but was here visiting. She stopped by La Sirenita with her family on her way to the airport to have our food before leaving and came in to say hello. That is my favorite part of owning a business.
Что стало вашим самым большим успехом на сегодняшний день?
Luis: Helping my family move forward and achieve their goals. By working here, they learn how to work well and understand the value of this type of work.
Что было для вас самым сложным?
Luis: Maintaining the restaurant with all the things you need to think about — supplies, increasing costs, paperwork, and other ongoing challenges. Continuing to give attention to everything that needs it, when it needs it, is always a challenge.
Что вы посоветуете тем, кто хочет начать свой собственный малый бизнес?
Luis: You have to be very aware and involved in the daily work. There’s a Mexican proverb: El que tiene tienda, que la atienda, y si no que la venda (“If you have a shop, you must manage it — otherwise, you’ll have to sell it”). You have to always be involved.
Many people are very engaged in the beginning, but as challenges come up — like increasing costs or managing employees — it’s important to keep going. My father was not able to receive much education, but he was able to help many people through this business by being present and continually working hard.
