Banana Dang, Inc.

FINALLY. We planned our business for 3 years before making the move so we knew this had to happen and there’s no turning back. It has not been easy but the PR gov't ARPE finally gave us our Permiso de Uso (permission to do business)! We are completely exhausted getting all the paperwork and permits together but ARPE gave us the green light after denying us twice for limited parking (they require 9 spaces—we have 4).

Thanks to the good folks at Lazy Parrot (a beautiful hotel 2 doors from us)—we can now open. Our 5 extra parking spaces are on loan from them so we’ll have to offer the official “Lazy Parrot” drink in honor of our neighbors. On top of that, we’ve heard it could take up to 3 years to get an ARPE permit—Getting ours in 2 months is “record time” for PR (say the locals).

What you need to open a food biz in PR (besides tons of patience):

Certificado de Salud (Health certificate)
Cuerpo De Bomberos (Fire certificate)
Endoso de Municipio (Municipality permit)
Permiso de Uso (ARPE government permit)
Patente (patent)
Certificado de Registro de Comerciante (merchant license)
Certificado de Exencion (merchant tax exemption)

…And before each application, you have to pay for a voucher.

Also, there is finally SURF in Rincon after several months. It picked up to 2-4 ft. (“fun size”). For those unfamiliar with PR terrain– some advice:

- It’s a reef bottom, beware of rocks, coral + sea urchins
- Beware of “sea lice" (they bite like mosquitoes)
- Like all oceans, there’s jelly fish
- Surf has push on the inside, but there’s a channel
- Water is as warm as the air: 75-80 degrees
- Locals are nice but feel it out before dropping in

Life here is rewarding. Fingers crossed as we plan to open in 2-3 weeks! Working 10-15 hour days never felt sooo good…

Con Amor, Mario y T2