Diary of a Startup

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We are now “Rinconeros.” It’s still so surreal. We work from dawn to dusk—scurrying to make ends meet with the government, health and fire inspectors, vendors, insurance agents, banks and car registration personnel. The good news is we got the temporary approval from the Puerto Rico government ARPE to jumpstart our business. Our carpenter is nearly finished with the barista bar and we're anxiously waiting for our La Marzocco espresso machine to arrive. Also, it took 6 weeks to get the car but our trusty Scion XB finally made it, flat tire and all.

The busy tourist season is nearing quickly and we have less than a month to open Banana Dang—that means we have less than 2 weeks to clean the upstairs and move in, dust the downstairs, bomb the bugs, landscape, paint the exterior, get the sign ready for business, finalize the menu, install appliances and furniture, get DSL and perhaps...sleep!

It’s been quite the change to go from corpo world to urban refugee land. The roads have no name, the streets are narrow (built for horse and buggy) and defensive driving is a must—as Mario says: “Drive like they’re out to get you!”

If you want directions, you’ll get an answer that goes something like this: “Go up the hill, when you see the white tire, turn left then you’ll see the crazy dog, turn right and go to the gas station, make a left and then call me…I’ll give you the rest of the directions then...better yet—just follow me!”

Puerto Rican Culture 101:

• Honk only if you want to say “hello.”
• Don’t talk negative about anyone—they’re probably related to the person you’re gossiping to.
• If you’re a woman, you must be totally dolled up before even going to the supermarket.
• For men: Plucking your eyebrows is considered “clean,” NOT gay.
• If you’re 15, you can marry legally (many parents consent)!
• Patience is a virtue and must be practiced daily.
• Being an hour (or two) late for meetings is considered normal.
• In fact, meetings don't have a specific time, just a general one ("I'll be there in the morning.")
• Mosquitoes are part of the culture. Stay indoors during sunrise and sunset.
• Your word is GOLD. Here...reputation is everything.

Greatest thing about Puerto Rico is it’s “organic” by default. The import tax is so high on most things that you are forced to buy local, eat organic and even drink coffee the traditional way. You will never find a 24-oz triple hazelnut caramel macchiato no whip in Rincon. It’s the 6-oz cappuccino or 4-oz café con leche that sells.

Con amor, T2 + Mario

Bienvenidos a Rincon

Well, we wanted a big change and we got it. Rincon's bright blue sky, rich green foliage and crystal clear oceans is the perfect muse for any poet. You will experience all the colors of the earth here. What's most interesting is between 2-4 pm, it pours like clockwork everyday. We've settled at John and Yolanda (Mario’s cousin)’s guesthouse, Dos Angeles Del Mar. They've been so wonderful to us—cooking for us, driving us around the island, giving us room and board downstairs by the pool, which I fully take advantage of! Although Mario and I both caught a cold upon arrival, we're motivated to get Banana Dang up and running by November.

It’s been a month, but it feels like several. I have to admit that I miss my comfortable old life in SoCal but I do know I would’ve had many regrets if I didn’t leave to pursue a lifelong dream of opening my own coffeehouse very close to the beach—especially with Mario. My favorite new quote: “Every oak tree began with a couple of nuts who firmly stood their ground.”

However, a month in PR and I haven’t even touched the ocean! It’s been flat as a pancake or too big (at least for me) to surf. We’re also keeping busy readying up the biz: dusting, priming, painting, re-painting, raking, washing, chopping bananas—YES, we have two BANANA plants in our backyard!—all this in 85 percent humidity.

Our place is starting to come alive: A/C unit's been installed, driveway’s been paved, downstairs' interiors got color and we even picked out some cool modern furniture. We will soon make a trip to San Juan to get our La Marzocco espresso machine. We also met the Mayor of Rincon at his new building downtown where the municipality gave us the endorsement for our business. Next, the government has to sign off—then we have to get a blood test (required to serve food), took a health class and up next: get our patent! On the downside, the contractor who promised he’d finish our remodeling work before we arrived (plumbing + electricity) is a month late on the job. This is normal pace for PR. The locals “work to live—not live to work.”

Still, my only regret in moving is that I never learned Spanish although I'm picking up a little everyday. A majority of the residents do speak English, but whether they want to or not is another story. For a primarily English-only speaking citizen, it is fairly easy, however, to get by in Rincon (means “corner”). A lot of pro surfers and international travelers frequent this area and Americans from the mainland have opened several restaurants and shops in town.

Contrary to popular belief, Puerto Rico is no desert island. The Commonwealth of PR is a self-governing part of the U.S. where its citizens have the same control over their internal affairs as do the 50 U.S. states. However, they do not vote in national elections, only in national primaries. No federal income tax collected here, but as part of the U.S. legal system, most federal laws do apply. In Rincon you will find: Home Depot, Sam’s, Quizno's, Denny’s—even Pier 1. Surprisingly, NO Starbucks! Yes, the "big green" is nowhere to be seen in this part of the island.

We are getting a major lifestyle change: adjusting to a new culture, building a new business, and (for me) learning a new language. In mid-October we move upstairs into our home and in 2 weeks our personal belongings and trusty Scion will be arriving. It will feel nice to experience freedom on wheels again!

We hope this blog finds everyone well.
Con Amor, T2 + Mario

On the road to Puerto Rico...

CLICK HERE for more pictures from the road

Hello family and friends. We're alive, happy and well.

Leaving Los Angeles—and mainland USA—was a very hard thing to do because we have so much love for everyone in our lives. In so many ways, L.A. will always be home.

It's been 8 days on the road as we drive on the 10 Fwy to Orlando to ship our beloved Scion, which—by the way, has not let us down. Thank you, Toyota! We've stayed at some pretty moldy and stinky hotels that cost less than $50, but also some nicer ones with big pools and workout rooms. After all, you've got to have balance in life—even on a budget.

We wanted to "recon" as many coffeehouses as possible and stopped at various cafes along our route—averaging 300 miles (approx 5 hours) daily. Unfortunately, we don't have an MP3 player so our only entertainment was bad radio reception!

There were some highlights, including:

San Dimas, CA—Coffee Klatch is the home of Heather Perry, 2007 U.S. Barista Champion (she also won in 2003) and placed 2nd in the 2007 World Barista Championship. Unfortunately, she wasn't there but her trophies were as well as banners and pictures of her winnings. The cafe was comfortable, homey and quiet. Cappuccino was 16oz and tasted more like a latte but was decent. We'd come back just for you, Heather!

Tucson, AZ—Cafe Passé is a cute little coffeehouse located on a very hip street (with a natural food market, bookstore and fashion boutiques). Sabine runs the joint and she did a great job given the moderate store traffic and large space. The menu had "The Bruce Lee"—2 shots of espresso with condensed milk...my kind of coffee.

Junction, TX—Sunshine Cafe + Bakery has the BEST BANANA CREAM PIE we've ever tasted. "I cook food," says the chef, "the way food is supposed to taste." The salad was HUGE and so were the drinks. The "regular" lemonade clocked in at 42oz. Everything is BIG in TEXAS. C'est vrai.

Beaumont, TX—Frank's restaurant has been in business for over 40 years. Need we say more?

Gulfport, MS—No coffeehouse here but we just had to mention that two years after Hurricane Katrina this city is still in the dumps! Shattered and moldy buildings with roof tops blown off everywhere. It looked like a war-torn Third World country. We were SHOCKED. Is this America????

Tallahassee, FL—Bad Ass Coffee was one of the best-branded coffee chains we've ever been too. Their logo was EVERYWHERE in the store—from the ass himself (donkey mascot) to cups, stickers, T-shirts that read, "I love my Bad Ass attitude," and so forth.

Tomorrow we head to Orlando and fly one-way to Rincon, PR. We're anxious, excited and nervous, but most of all—motivated!

Adios muchachos,
T2 + Mario