Los Amigos Receives GROW Loan, Giving the Restaurant Room to Adjust to New Normal
COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways, and it continues to carry lasting effects. Some of your favorite local businesses have shouldered burdens too heavy to carry alone. At GROW, we’ve been honored to work with the Community Foundation for Muskegon County to provide beloved entrepreneurs with our Recovery and Working Capital Loans, like Ana Olson and Los Amigos Mexican Bar and Grill.
About Los Amigos
Since 2006, Los Amigos Mexican Bar and Grill has not just been a restaurant serving delicious, made from scratch Mexican food at everyday prices, but a place where guests of all ages can come together to experience unique flavors, along with the art and culture of Mexico. Ana Olson was born and raised in Mexico, and as an immigrant, she works tirelessly to improve inclusion and support for minority-owned businesses throughout Muskegon. Her dedication to the West Michigan community makes a partnership with GROW a perfect fit.
Like many local restaurants, Los Amigos was forced to close its dining room on March 16 due to the shelter in place mandate. The stay at home order forced Ana to pivot her business and offer only delivery or curbside pickup. This pivot caused a 95% reduction in staff, going from 33 employees to four. They had to alter their hours and start using platforms like DoorDash and GrubHub which charge a 30% premium. Their menu changed, they lost revenue, and they had to completely shut down the catering side of their business.
Most Operational Expenses Don’t Stop in a Pandemic
As a result, ongoing expenses such as rent, insurance, and utilities have been difficult for Los Amigos to keep up with. Ana came to GROW for assistance, as so many local businesses have in the last few months.
Bonnie Nawara, CEO of GROW shared, “Ana is a remarkable entrepreneur and champion of the Muskegon community. These funds are critical to help businesses like Los Amigos manage the expenses that don’t stop just because your business is closed, like rent, insurance, and other bottom-line costs. We’re grateful for key partners like the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and their grant that will allow us to continue these loans for Muskegon businesses.”
Looking toward the future, additional adjustments to Los Amigos’ restaurant offerings might include family-style takeout meals, small classes for customers, and more, all with the goal to retain the employees Los Amigos had before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here for Local Businesses with Recovery Loans & Counseling
Nearly every business GROW works with has turned to us the last several months.
“As someone who had never dealt with applying for a loan before, it was scary to first look at the application, but GROW addressed all of my worries. Being both a female and a minority, it’s so reassuring to know there’s a group like GROW to help us. Because of them, I was able to secure funding and improve my business in these uncertain times,” said Ana.
Whether for help to defer current small business loans, manage cash flow, or receive new loans that will help them survive this crisis, we’re grateful to be able to assist Los Amigos and hundreds of other local businesses on their path to recovery.
For more information about GROW visit www.growbusiness.org
For more about Los Amigos visit www.losamigosmuskegon.com
