Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Perez.
Mary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I had been in Non- Profits for 23 years, I was working in the marketing department for JPS Health Network which is the county hospital for Tarrant County. The hospital departments would raise money through fundraisers for American Heart Association, Cancer Society, etc. I had not been with the hospital long, but due to my experience, I knew fundraising. I suggested my department sell Enchilada Plates within the hospital and sure enough we raised a lot of money, one of my coworkers, Linda Pugh, mentioned to me that I should bottle my red Enchilada sauce because it was so good. I pondered that idea and 6 months later I walked into Central Market Corporate Office in Dallas with a plate of Enchiladas and a Kerr Jar of my Enchilada sauce! The buyer heated the food, then went out to give others taste. His name was Tom O’ Brien, he loved the sauce and within 30 minutes we were talking about the price, quantities, etc.!!! After my first order to Central Markets, I resigned from my job at JPS, I had 13,000 to start my business. It was the hardest, toughest thing I had ever done, for the first time in my life, I did not have a bi-weekly check, health insurance or a 401 K Plan. Most nights I slept very little in the beginning, however, as the road got tougher, I seemed more determined to succeed. My sons and I would demonstrate the products at Central Market stores in order to increase sales. I met Doug Renfro from Mrs. Renfro’s sauces, he became a mentor and gave me a lot of direction including not taking a national deal with Albertsons. His best advice was grow slowly or you’ll go bankrupt. I started making sauces in a commercial kitchen I leased hourly and then the demand increased and started using a manufacturer. My sons and I delivered products with our pickup truck.
Two years into the retail business and I met Mr. Jerry Brockett who was the co-founder of National Food and Beverage, the manufacturer who was making my sauces. Mr. Jerry had not tasted my products but he told me he saw something in me that reminded him of two young men who had walked into National Food and Beverage almost 30 years prior. Mr. Jerry had told me that the two young men had a product with a catchy name but it was their demeanor and will to be successful with their product that encouraged his and his partners decision to manufacture their product. That product was On the Border. Mr. Jerry had asked me how hard would it be to run a restaurant and compared to the traveling I was doing, I didn’t think it could be that hard. So, I found a tiny kitchen for lease in the Riverside area of Fort Worth. Was I wrong about restaurant work. 80-hour weeks, however the first year in business Enchiladas Ole was the #1 restaurant on TripAdvisor, we had multiple magazine articles and today always place in Top Awards from magazine contests in Fort Worth, including Top 10 Best Queso in Texas!
We were featured last year on the Food Network Channel on a show called East Meets West Cuisine! Currently, we are working on a whole line of retail products that will include Enchilada dinners! We will be opening a new location for Enchiladas Ole’ with double the seating. With the nonprofit mentality, homeless folks, cancer patients, police officers eat on the house anytime we are open. Any chance we get to make a positive difference, we reach out however we can. We serve kindness along with delicious food!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Has been extremely rough financially and physically. I broke my left ankle in 2016, right ankle in 2017, multiple burns and cuts.
I have learned to slow down. Patience was never a virtue I possessed but have become much better at practicing patience!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Enchiladas were always my favorite food when it came to Mexican meals, my concept was to provide the best enchilada sauces and make some amazing meals! We started with nothing and have grown in 4 and a half years in business. I had worked for 10 years in Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth and have hired some of the kids who are now grown that attended the Boys and Girls Clubs. I believe what sets us apart is how much we give and do in the community. Because I am the owner I can make that call.
What were you like growing up?
My mother was from Spain, my father met mom while he was stationed in France, mom was working in France in a jelly factory. Mom was a stay at home mom, she lived in the kitchen and I was always right beside her. I loved to read and write and had actually always wanted to be a writer, imagine that! I laugh all the time at just about anything, have always been interested in helping others and currently working on a nonprofit to help young people learn how to cook and be marketable in the workplace.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.enchiladasole.cim
- Phone: 817-984-1360
- Email: mary@enchiladasole.com
- Instagram: Enchiladas Ole
- Facebook: Enchiladas Ole
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
