Entrepreneur Success Stories
The impact of NDC’s work is most vividly reflected in the success of the entrepreneurs and small businesses we support. Their stories are our story. The following stories highlight NDC’s role at critical points along the road to success. We’re adding new stories all the time:
Aracely Zagal learned the art of piñata making growing up in Mexico. In 1999, after ten years of living in Minnesota, she seized an opportunity to turn her art into a business when she learned about plans to open a Latino-themed public market in South Minneapolis. Inspired by the absence of culturally familiar goods and services, a group of Latino immigrants worked together to create a vision for the Mercado Central. NDC, in partnership with Project for Pride in Living and Whittier CDC, helped the entrepreneurs realize their vision and the Mercado opened in 1999, with Aracely’s Dulcería la Piñata offering endless varieties of Mexican candy and handmade piñatas to wide-eyed customers. Read more...
Sonora Grill opened in 2011 to high praise from customers and critics alike. A fusion of Spanish and South American cuisine, with influences from the owners’ native Sonora, Mexico, Sonora Grill boasts a 100% scratch kitchen. Everything, from the cilantro aioli to the wiener in the famous Sonora Hot Dog, is prepared from scratch in their Midtown Global Market kitchen. Read more...
Emancipated from her family at the age of 15, and now a single mother of three, De’Monica Flye knows all too well the reality of facing and overcoming obstacles. A strong character gifted with talent, De’Monica used the challenges she faced to fuel her passion for performing and turned it into a business... Read more...
The Edge Coffee House offers a warm environment that invites you to linger for hours and come back again the next day, complete with comfy couches, an old piano, and walls lined with Ya Ya’s personal eclectic touch. Owner Patricia “Ya Ya” Y wanted it just that way when she bought the coffee shop two years ago (when it was the Artist’s Grind) and turned it into a coffee house. Read more...
People Magic®
Rob Chalmers uses magic to show people that things aren’t always what they seem; to challenge perceptions and change attitudes. Rob combines his background in psychology and education with his unique manner of communicating to work with people’s differences and help them better understand each other. He continually leaves audiences inspired, motivated, and full of laughter. Read more...
The Alden Group
Donald Bryant Jr.’s strength lies in recognizing potential, both in business and in people. Three years ago he took a risk, leaving his career as a marketer to create The Alden Group, a Consumer Products Company headquartered on West Broadway in North Minneapolis. In only three years they have expanded from selling their products in 80 stores to 2000 stores today, with a deal in the making to launch a new product onto the shelves of a major drugstore chain with over 7000 stores nationwide. Read more...
Manny's Tortas
28 years ago, Manny González moved to Minnesota with two dreams: to learn English, and to own his own restaurant. He realized his first dream quickly. In 1998, he read about an innovative, Latino-organized, NDC-supported project coming to East Lake Street: the Cooperativa Mercado Central. They had space for five food businesses, and Manny saw a chance to realize his second dream. He enrolled in NDC’s 16-week entrepreneur training program, where he developed a business plan, and as Manny says with a contagious grin “that’s how everything started!” Read more...
Ultimate Look
WhenDominique Wells was 12 years old, he began cutting hair as a hobby, never imagining it would turn into a career. His aunt, Wendy Lane, had opened a salon on University Avenue in 1992, and Dominique put his hobby to work there. In 2005, when his aunt became too ill, Dominique took over the business, expanding the main floor salon to include a full barber shop in the back. Read more...
All Washed Up
The idea for opening up a laundromat came during college when Shantae received a rejection letter from the Department of Human Services, citing a criminal past as a reason not to hire her. Discouraged, but then inspired to not let her past stand in the way of her future, Shantae decided “I’m going to have to have my own business so I can hire myself!” She knew that two essential steps to opening her own business were writing a business plan and securing funding. Read more...
The District Barber Shop
The District Barber Shop is a 450 square foot four seat - start-up barber shop at 1116 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis that allows families to have their hair cuts in one convenient visit. There are many “quick salons” like Cost Cutters, or Fantastic Sams, however, most of these salons only provide the minimum services. These upscale barbers can be incon-venient due to scheduling requirements and cost. Read more...
