Community Highlights: Meet Juan Soto of Empanada & Company

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Soto.

Hi Juan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started on a small beach in Honduras. A man approached me and my wife with a cooler full of empanadas that he had freshly made for sale. We purchased some not realizing how this would change our lives. Instantly we began brainstorming how incredible would it be to have an experience like this back home. Growing up in an Ecuadorian household, there were many traditions including making bread from scratch and cooking family recipes alongside my grandmother. These traditions have stuck with me and I knew I had to bring them to fruition for others to experience. My wife and I decided to combine the flavors from both of our cultures, she’s Cuban, and create these flavorful pockets of love, the Empanada. This is how the idea of Empanada & Company began.

For the first year, I sold empanadas twice a week out of the trunk of my car to a bunch of mechanics at a car dealership while still working a full time job. Little by little I introduced co-workers to my product until I got enough attention that I began getting orders almost daily. By my second year, I was making so many empanadas that I really started considering leaving my full time job to focus on production because there just wasn’t enough hours in the day for me to continue doing both. At the same time I came across an opportunity for a new marketplace in Mount Dora. It allowed small business owners an opportunity to have a storefront at a fraction of the cost. This was when I knew it was time to leave the corporate world.

In January of 2020, we opened up our first storefront. Three months later, we were faced with a worldwide pandemic. Not knowing what would come of it, we strongly believed in our product and looked for ways to stay relevant so we began doing home deliveries and also offering frozen options. This truly helped us stay in business and we were able to remain open and continue serving the community. One year later and we have opened our second location inside the Winter Garden Plant Street Market, that of which we are extremely humbled to be a part of and have been welcomed with nothing but open arms.

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?
Although it hasn’t been the smoothest road it has been a rewarding one. The biggest struggle for me was learning the restaurant business and legalities of everything behind the scenes. I didn’t have any guidance when I first started so I had to learn everything on my own.

As you know, we’re big fans of Empanada & Company. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We make gourmet baked empanadas and sauces in which everything is made from scratch. We infuse our flavors from Ecuadorian and Cuban traditional dishes and ensure to fuel your soul with every bite!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We are constantly adding new flavors to our menu and rotating them so you will always have an opportunity to try something new. Additionally, we cater and have done many events (weddings, baby showers, work celebrations, open houses). Empanadas go hand in hand during all occasions, yes the pun was intended!

Pricing:

• $3.50 to $4.50 per empanada
• $2 Variety of Spanish Sodas

Contact Info:

• Email: empanada.n.co@gmail.com
• Website: www.empanadaandco.com
• Instagram: empanada.n.co
• Facebook: @empanadaorder

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