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Taqueria Mariposa-- Update post #109 (1 Viewer)

Awesome, glumpy!! Let me know when you're up and running, and I'll come by and eat. What I85 exit is it off of?

 
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So you've gone from a pizza palce to a food truck. Would this be a burrito or other Latin/Mexican themed truck?

And you're parking the truck in front of an old storefront. Are you renting said storefront for supplies/storage?

 
glumpy said:
Officer Pete Malloy said:
I've said this here more than once. I worked in the industry for years. My wife still does.

The last thing I'd ever want to do is own/start a restaurant.
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**sigh** I've said it as well but it's like a magnet. My wife thrives on it.
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Hard to not succeed here in the Triangle -

But if you have the nerve for retail aren't there a ton of better choices?

Just about any real service in the right spot will prosper - we are still in high growth mode as the N'easters continue to move down.

Any legit 'New York' style business?

Make a good thin pizza that doesn't suck - it'll sell

 
JaxBill said:
So you've gone from a pizza palce to a food truck. Would this be a burrito or other Latin/Mexican themed truck?

And you're parking the truck in front of an old storefront. Are you renting said storefront for supplies/storage?
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Pizza place was just from stumbling into the restaurant offer--I think that's a pretty safe market but it's saturated. We're going after the Latino market and have some good history there. They also want me to incorporate my cooker into the mix but there are some new code restrictions on cookers which have to be resolved. Storefront has already been rejected for food storage so at best it'll be supplies--upgrading is not an option that I can see. Our end goal is to establish the market and eventually move to brick and mortar, but the location is really attractive despite the restrictions.

 
glumpy said:
UPDATE! it's been Crazy!!
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Crazy has taken on a whole new meaning since September--and this post is pretty much when it started.

Here's a Google map view of where we are: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2032+Nc+Highway+86+S,+Hillsborough,+NC+27278/@36.055221,-79.079734,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89acdeef75922f1b:0x86ab2cf205decad. It's a little north of that indicator, across from HD parking lot. Zoom in a couple times on the satellite view and the latest picture includes the trailer! The street view is at least 20 years old since the gas pump canopy has been gone that long IIRC.

We're cooking! Been fully operational about 4 months, and it's pretty well holding its own. Location location location....it's out front and center on a road with a lot of traffic flow! We are planted in place--actually plugged into the building rather than generator support other than two trips we've catered, with one more to go. Sounds pretty straightforward but for a few wrinkles:

The buildings we are tied to are soon to be torn down. 30 acres there, and the owner is lining up a couple anchor stores after which he has said we could look at outparcels for a permanent place. We are tied to a Tienda with the idea that when we move we will open our own tienda of sorts--Hispanic grocery and services center which also acts as a commissary so we don't need to move the trailer (and might service others--or even run an occasional small 'rodeo'. We are also looking are other local parcels for sale/lease but really like this one as long as we can maintain some kind of visual presence.

Surprise update from last night:

I left my day job and arrived to find that we are taking over the existing storefront, effective immediately. ooooookay. :mellow:

Good time as any since we're meeting with the owner first of next week--and LOTS to discuss!

Discovered this review yesterday while looking up names locally for licensing: http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-mariposa-hillsborough

:cool:

 
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glumpy said:
glumpy said:
UPDATE! it's been Crazy!!
Click to expand...
Crazy has taken on a whole new meaning since September--and this post is pretty much when it started.

Here's a Google map view of where we are: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2032+Nc+Highway+86+S,+Hillsborough,+NC+27278/@36.055221,-79.079734,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89acdeef75922f1b:0x86ab2cf205decad. It's a little north of that indicator, across from HD parking lot. Zoom in a couple times on the satellite view and the latest picture includes the trailer! The street view is at least 20 years old since the gas pump canopy has been gone that long IIRC.

We're cooking! Been fully operational about 4 months, and it's pretty well holding its own. Location location location....it's out front and center on a road with a lot of traffic flow! We are planted in place--actually plugged into the building rather than generator support other than two trips we've catered, with one more to go. Sounds pretty straightforward but for a few wrinkles:

The buildings we are tied to are soon to be torn down. 30 acres there, and the owner is lining up a couple anchor stores after which he has said we could look at outparcels for a permanent place. We are tied to a Tienda with the idea that when we move we will open our own tienda of sorts--Hispanic grocery and services center which also acts as a commissary so we don't need to move the trailer (and might service others--or even run an occasional small 'rodeo'. We are also looking are other local parcels for sale/lease but really like this one as long as we can maintain some kind of visual presence.

Surprise update from last night:

I left my day job and arrived to find that we are taking over the existing storefront, effective immediately. ooooookay. :mellow:

Good time as any since we're meeting with the owner first of next week--and LOTS to discuss!

Discovered this review yesterday while looking up names locally for licensing: http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-mariposa-hillsborough

:cool:
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One question. Doesn't mariposa have a derogative connotation among the latin-american community... or is that an upstate ny thing?

 
Looks like you got another great review on yelp. Foodies love a good taco truck, so you should try to spread the word on places like the chowhound boards (http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/78) or contact some area food blogs like Carpe Durham. Will try to swing by the next time I am driving through that area. Love some fresh tortillas.

 
Good stuff gumpy. Didn't know you were in Hillsborough - I grew up an hour north in Martinsville, VA. Next time I'm home I will swing thru since I drive through Hillsborough on my way to and from RDU.

 
no way, i drive right by there once a month on my way to my warehouse in Greensboro. I usually pass that spot around 6-7p and by that time I'm definitely looking for a quick dinner. What are your hours? I see the ones listed on Yelp just never sure if those things are accurate

 
FootballDummy said:
FattyVM said:
One question. Doesn't mariposa have a derogative connotation among the latin-american community... or is that an upstate ny thing?
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Dual meaning. Context is key. In this context it means butterfly.
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Butterfly is the only one I knew--will have to check that out!

Thanks for all the kudos guys--it's really been wide open. I had to draft last night from the storefront by phone. Rumor is that the first anchor store for the property may be breaking ground soon so that will impact us, and maybe with that in place we can look at a more permanent out parcel. I've talked with he owner and hopefully we'll be meeting this week on another subject and maybe hear something.

ETA: I'm having issues with internet access so updates may be sparse for a couple days.

 
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tipsy mcstagger said:
Very cool brother!
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Thanks tipsy! Been keeping up with your venture throughout and I'm really excited for you too--especially given that we were both setting things up pretty much at the same time. Sorry we never got together for that pickin we planned but you're the real chef here, and I'm just having a good time! :cool:

 
hotdogcollars said:
no way, i drive right by there once a month on my way to my warehouse in Greensboro. I usually pass that spot around 6-7p and by that time I'm definitely looking for a quick dinner. What are your hours? I see the ones listed on Yelp just never sure if those things are accurate
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Hours are 11:00am-10:00 pm, Monday-Saturday--but sometimes we'll run a limited menu after 10:00 according to demand. I lost track but think last night we served until about 10:30--but once we were breaking down it was pretty much tacos only! We anticipate that the grocery will run 7 days once it's established but again--this is a work in progress! During development of the permanent site it's wide open.

 
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Would love to check it out but Google says you are 7 hours and 2 minutes away. :(

Good luck, sounds like you have a good thing going.

 
johnnyrock62000 said:
I can't wait to hear one of the FBG's report back. I'm still dreaming of the homemade tortilla's.
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I can't either! :)

Whole lot of activity around there now since they're repaving the road and working on all the local bridges. Understand the property next to us is sold.

 
My wife is back visiting her dad in Greensboro. Next time I'm out there, I'll make a point to come and see you!!

Congrats!!

 
We're headed to Raleigh this Saturday, so we'll be passing right by. You open at 11? Wife is on board!

I'm thinking chicken burrito...damn I'm hungry already. :)

 
just discovered this thread.....mrs x works in RTP, so maybe trip to glumpville is in order.

do i come in and say, "hi, i'm chemical x from the board?"

 
Chemical X said:
just discovered this thread.....mrs x works in RTP, so maybe trip to glumpville is in order.

do i come in and say, "hi, i'm chemical x from the board?"
Click to expand...
Sure thing! :D

Actually the Mrs won't know individual names but she sure is looking out for someone announcing FBG's! I generally get there around 6:30 and work evenings. Last night I got a comment from one of the customers on my Blackeyed Joe cap--because I'm frequently wearing that or the shirts around town.

We have pretty much stayed in place but for three Sunday caterings, and completed our last trip this past weekend. No more--no way no how....well....maybe just one--we got Slammed. Set up at Maple View Farms Ice cream shop for their annual party, pared the menu down to tacos and burritos so we could keep up and it was nonstop for five hours until we ran out of food. Almost perfect timing. Hooooooleeee.... :cool:

 
Chemical X said:
also, is this a stationary food truck only?
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Almost 100%. It's a trailer to start--and my truck isn't really big enough to haul it all over the place. The commissary is exactly one mile away, there's excellent traffic flow through there, and we've got a pretty regular customer base looking for us. At his point if we build a base it will be to support the trailer, rather than replace it. Seems like a perfect fit for a Taqueria.

 
OK--first time posting from the cellphone--on the ground and don't want to wait! I need some help--any NC real estate lawyers here who can review a contract for me? One of those deals: if it seems too good to be true then think twice before signing... Offer is on the table.

 
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