Las Vegas Urban League
Black Restaurant Accelerator Success Stories
Sadie’s Kitchen and Soul Food Bistro
Pamela Smith of Sadie’s Kitchen and Soul Food Bistro ran into a full business stoppage in March of 2021 when the state of Nevada closed food service businesses via mask mandates and social distancing mandates. Sadie’s business was forced to move from a catering and commissary service model to a take-out model. They did not have the vehicle assets to offer their services through delivery. Despite not receiving needed grant monies from governmental programs, Sadie’s Kitchen was able to drive demand and volume through marketing and social media spending made possible through the PepsiCo grant in 2022.
“As well known, Covid practically destroyed the Restaurant Industry, and Small Minority Restaurants such as ours were hit the hardest. Covid was the main factor, but there were others; we didn’t receive any millions of dollars the government loaned and granted. 2022 got better, but not at a rate to compensate for months of no revenue. The PepsiCo Grant allowed us to market our Fall promotions, buy some much-needed supplies, cover payroll, and show our excellence in cuisine and service. The requests for our services are pouring in, and it looks like we may have our first Contract Agreement to do something we love, feed seniors good healthy meals. Another goal is to have our seasoning and rub selling nationally in 2023. The PepsiCo Grant came right in time and will forever be part of Sadie’s Kitchen & Catering LLC’s success story.”
Twice Baked Catering and Mobile Food Service
Twice Baked owner and founder Rochelle Hodge came to our Entrepreneurship Center in 2016 after spending 20 years as a hair stylist, looking to start her own food service business. Her initial product offering was gourmet baked potatoes. Our EC helped her create her business plan for Twice Baked, and she started a catering business. Ms. Hodge later purchased a food truck and was on her way with her catering and mobile food service operation. In 2020-2021, the COVID-19 health crisis crippled her food truck sales and hindered demand for her catering services. Through continuous business management training and the BRAP grant from PepsiCo, Twice Baked is again thriving and experiencing similar demand that they had pre-pandemic.
“It's a mantel that every living human being has to do or should be doing when they have the privilege of LIFE to come and share their GOD-GIVEN gifts to change the world, to encourage and inspire with the special powers we hold so when opportunities arise such as the LVUL PepsiCo Black Restaurant Accelerator Program our team and I definitely do not take it for granted and is extremely grateful of course the grant will continue to help Twice Baked team to do better and greater things and continue to serve the customers everything of what they want and more thank you.”