Entrepreneurs Heart Hartford – Camilla’s Latin Restaurant
This blog series, posted in partnership between HYPE and reSET, offers a platform to showcase the commitment that Hartford Entrepreneurs have for their work and this City. It will examine how young entrepreneurs have chosen their work, and give examples of the ways in which they are having an impact in Hartford.
Tell us about your business.
Camilla’s is a Latin American restaurant featuring signature inspired dishes from Honduras, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. We are a family owned and operated restaurant with the name being inspired by our first daughter. We are located in the Parkville section of Hartford right off of Park street which is a good fit for the surrounding community. Our lunch menu is constantly changing based on the demands and diversity of our customers. We also offer catering and delivery as well.
Why did you decide to start your business in Hartford?
We decided to start a business in Hartford because we both reside in the city with no plans to leave. Beatrix is a life long resident of Hartford and Nahum immigrated to Hartford in 1997 from Honduras. Choosing Hartford for our business was an easy one because Hartford offers a diverse community in an urban setting.
How does your business impact the community?
Our restaurant impacts the community by offering a multi-cultural setting for people to comfortably bring their families and enjoy a meal. As we become more established, we will definitely be more involved with the community through sponsorships, fundraisers and community based events.
What words of wisdom would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur who may be hesitant to take the plunge into entrepreneurship?
Our words of wisdom to an aspiring entrepreneur who maybe hesitant is to stay positive about the vision of their business. One of the toughest things to do when starting a business is to maintain a positive outlook for your vision, so don’t lose sight of your goal.
What is it like being an entrepreneur in Hartford? What difficulties or challenges have you faced?
Being entrepreneurs in Hartford, especially for the first time, is a change of pace of everyday regular 9-to-5 jobs. The biggest adjustment has been understanding that we are always thinking of our business no matter what the time of the day, or day of the week it is. The toughest challenge we have faced by far is spreading the word that we are open. We would have benefited from a clearer marketing strategy that would have enabled our business to be known to a larger audience.
What is your vision for your business venture over the next five years?
Our vision for our business in the next 5 years is to be a well-established restaurant in the community and, if possible, start up another restaurant in Hartford.
