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La Playa - A Daily Fiesta!
In a western border town called Beach exists a truly special Mexican restaurant - La Playa. The owners, Natalie Muruato and her husband Gustavo, relocated from Las Vegas, Nevada after researching several communities. Beach offered these entrepreneurs a great business environment, plus inexpensive housing.
Natalie designed her new business around one fundamental truth about cooking; there are no shortcuts to quality. The restaurant recently received a top business award in the community, based on popular vote by local residents. La Playa has become the place where locals bring their out-of-town visitors.
Natalie shares that getting the restaurant realized wasn't easy. Looking back, she comments, "This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life." She needed financing to get started, but no bank seemed willing to lend her funds to get started. After being frustrated with the start up process, she met Ronald Newman, Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center in Dickinson, and says, "I wouldn't be here without him". Ronald's expertise with business operations and the restaurant industry were put to good use, not to mention his knowledge of lesser-known funding sources. Natalie credits the Bank of North Dakota's Beginning Entrepreneur loan program, with being the magic touch needed to convince the local banker to accept her business proposal.
Asked about her future plans, she hopes to keep growing her business and possibly expand with more locations someday. She reflects that that last year has been a real learning experience for her and recommends other entrepreneurs work with the SBDC program - "I feel I can ask Ron about any questions or problems I may be having. He has lots of suggestions, but ultimately, leaves the decision up to me."
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