Check Out Adriana Garcia’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana Garcia

Adriana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my business in 2019 and I’m still in shock on how fast time has gone by.
I left a 25 year career in the banking & the mortgage industry to pursue a completely new path. It’s one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make. Opening this business has helped me realize how much goes into having a small business and it’s definitely very rewarding but also very challenging. It’s been an an exciting journey to find new ways to excite people with new food concepts. Now with more experience there are things I would have done differently. I’ve had to learn how to balance my finances during COVID and during slow peaks. You truly have to have a passion for being a food trucker to survive the good and the bad. I started on tables & chairs and then it went to a food cart & now the food truck.
Each step comes with its own unique set of problem solving. Our decisions can truly make or break us. They don’t just impact me but they impact my employees too. I have to think about everyone. It’s certainly a lot of pressure being mobile. Which events to book and how far to travel and weather conditions. Will this be good for marketing and will I come out in the positive at the end of an 15 hour day of work. It takes a lot of planning and patience. It isn’t like working in a corporate America setting where the structure and the decisions are made for you. It’s day by day decisions and analysis. If you don’t choose the right decision over and over it can lead to loss and in turn can close you down. You have to be able to learn and take advice from people with far more experience under their belt. When I first started I was prideful and throughout the years I’ve been stripped of that. I’ve learned that I have to be humble and open minded and transparent.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road.
Covid was a rough time because we had to pivot back and forth on how to continue having income coming in while maintaining ultimate safety for our staff and our customers. I started a delivery service over night. Thankfully it worked but having absolutely no training on how to operate a delivery service smoothly. We experienced a lot of trial & error. Last year we had a huge expense in replacing a part of the food truck that was mandatory for it to even run.
I closed for almost 2.5 months. I had no choice but to open from my garage.
It was not practical but I didn’t have a choice.
We all needed to work to support our families. I have to say this was the biggest challenge I’ve had since I started the business. I was seriously depressed and anxious and paralyzed by the thought of losing everything I saved up for the last couple of years. I invested so much and it was unimaginable to think it might all have been for nothing. Thankfully a lot of people in our community came to the rescue.
A farm owner and his wife out here in Laveen did a go fund me and the money was raised in less than 12 hours.
What a blessing and we will forever be grateful for all the help. They put us in a position to want to pay it forward in any way we can.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Frybread Fanatics is a Native American and Mexican American fusion food truck. We have a very creative sweet & savory menu. It’s been fun creating and researching what we should offer to our customers. The menu is something I’m very proud of because people really enjoy all the traditional and non traditional options. Also I run a paid mentorship program through the food truck for teens. This allows them to learn the ropes while we motivate, train, build confidence and learn how to be a tight knit functional team. This business couldn’t run without these awesome and amazing employees. They are like family now. The main staff is my daughter and my mom and I. It’s crazy because it’s 3 generations of woman running the business. We also bump heads often. It’s pretty funny because after we bump heads we have to realize it’s all family so we better remember that first. It’s been 6 years now and it’s been a journey to say the least.
My daughter started when she was 12. So it’s been a lot of missed summers and fun for her but she’s gained a lot of experience and self confidence. My mom started with me after retirement but still eager to work.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Save, save and save. I don’t drive a luxurious car or live an luxurious lifestyle. I save and spend on needs versus wants. The business always needs a cushion of money to operate. If I do something fun or travel then I have to plan for that and replenish that account to have some sort of peace of mind.
Also I’ve learned to accept help versus living in a state of pride that I can do it all myself.
No more lying to myself that I’m a SUPERWOMAN. I am proud of myself but very non oblivious that it took a group of family and employees to get us to this place. We are a team and it’s a win for us all.

Pricing:

• Range from $5.00 to $14

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.frybreadfanatics.com
• Instagram: frybread_fanatics
• Facebook: Frybread Fanatics

Image Credits
Some photos are taken by
https://www.instagram.com/kennnndallll?igsh=MW8yamx4ZTl0dno2