For many years, Salvadorian businessman Fredy Gamez aspired to open his own oyster bar. After working for a well-known restaurant for 15 years, he felt confident he had the knowledge needed to successfully follow his dreams. With the skills he gained in his previous job and previous entrepreneurial experience, Mr. Gamez felt ready to make his dream into a reality and he secured a 10-year lease for his new restaurant in the Mission District. Mr. Gamez approached MEDA in October 2012 to help him with the necessary steps for his lifelong ambition. After a thorough analysis of his business plan by a MEDA business coach he was advised he would need additional start-up capital to start his oyster bar. He was initially denied a loan by conventional lenders so MEDA helped him obtain a $25,000 loan from Working Solutions. Working Solutions manages a loan fund created by the city of San Francisco to support small businesses and job creation. Mission Street Oyster Bar opened up in January 2013 and has since received great reviews!
Access to capital is one of the many services offered at Plaza Adelante through AccelerateSF and MEDA’s Business Development Program. For more information about AccelerateSF please call 415-282-3334 ext 123 or visit www.medasf.org. Visit the Mission Street Oyster Bar at 2282 Mission Street, between 18th and 19th Street.
Have a success story of your own to share? Email us!