El Cuadrilatero Cafe: From Lucha Libre Dreams to Entrepreneurial Triumphs

In this video, Israel Martinez, owner of El Cuadrilatero Cafe, describes his entrepreneurial journey and the support provided by the PCC SBDC along the way. Read more below:

Topics: Small Business, Business Profiles, Business, Growing a Business, Restaurants

Portal Adventures Beaverton: The Small Business That's Pushing Boundaries in Live Entertainment

In this video, the Portal Adventures team describes their journey and the support provided by the PCC SBDC along the way. Read more below:

Topics: Small Business, Business Profiles, Business, Growing a Business, Restaurants

Topics: Small Business, Business Profiles, Business, Growing a Business, Restaurants, business builders

2019 graduate of the PCC SBDC Restaurant Builders program, Robert Greenup, has been obsessed with Ramen since he was a child. When he made a trip to Japan to visit family, he experienced delicious Mutekia Tonkotsu Ramen and spent the next year feverishly trying to replicate it. After that he decided to begin making his own noodles. One thing led to another and his restaurant Baka Umai (Japanese for "stupid delicious") was born. This is Robert's story.

Topics: Small Business, Business Profiles, Encore Entrepreneurship, Restaurants

Making the leap towards pursuing your dream of running a restaurant, or food cart, or breaking into the food service industry takes a lot of hard work, patience, preparation and planning before you even hit the "start" button. The competitive industry requires a steadfast focus for all of the aspects that come with running your own business. You must prepare to face unexpected challenges, and learn how to become a master marketer.

Topics: Small Business, CLIMB Center, Restaurants

Leslie Hildula of the PCC Small Business Development Center offers a presentation on the guidelines set forth by the Oregon Health Authority for re-opening restaurants, retail, and personal service businesses following the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" Coronavirus shutdown. In these two videos Leslie provides information on compliance requirements for the re-opening of small businesses that have been impacted by the Governor's orders. 

Topics: Small Business, Retail, Restaurants, Oregon, Retail Small Business Management, Retail Business Builders, coronavirus, Covid-19

Celeste Sipes joined the PCC SBDC team in February of 2020 -- Just in time for a global pandemic to hit Portland that has dramatically influenced small retail businesses. But Celeste, who also owns a successful online retail business, is up to the challenge! These are indeed difficult times for brick and mortar retailers who are trying to figure out how to continue to operate without the normal flow of physical customers. Below is the story of how Celeste is able to provide a sense of sanity in a time of upheaval.

Topics: Small Business, Retail, Restaurants, Retail Small Business Management, Covid-19

The PCC Small Business Development Center will offer Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Training for food manufacturers during the spring term. PCQI training will equip you with knowledge to get your PCQI certification, but is also structured to guide you to develop all elements required to develop a food safety plan, including a completed food product recall plan.

Topics: Small Business, Restaurants

 

Leslie Hildula has been around entrepreneurs all of her life, but nothing she has experienced could have fully prepared her for what's happening with small businesses during this time of global pandemic. Leslie and her team are working diligently to help Portland restaurant owners weather the storm of Covid-19 and the Oregon Governor's "Stay Home, Save Lives" orders.

Restaurant Virtual Meetup -- Leslie and her team are hosting virtual meetups for restaurant owners every other Tuesday. Learn more and sign up HERE.

Topics: Small Business, Retail, Restaurants, Retail Small Business Management, Covid-19

In August of 2019, the Northeast Portland brunch cafe Beeswing closed its doors. The restaurant had been open for two and a half years and was owned and operated by industry veterans. The reason? It wasn’t profitable enough. Beeswing isn’t alone: Portland has a long history of shuttered restaurants and bars that served amazing food and drink but still eventually closed. After all, the revenue needed for restaurants in Portland to succeed is staggeringly high.

Topics: Small Business, CLIMB Center, Food, Restaurants