Maskadores Taco Shop #13
"Our shop used to have a lot of people for lunch, too many people. And from one week to the next one, it came down to probably half of it. Half of my customers. And everybody was scared. But still we survived because I remember one day I went to the back of our complex and I saw so many family stores close. And that is when the reality hit me. Because that’s when I realized how blessed I was, since some businesses did not survive. When I saw that, I got so sad for the people because it was a tragedy, it was really bad. So, I came back and I said "oh my god, I’m so blessed, and I’m so happy, and I shouldn’t be complaining at all." Because some people just wake up and worry about so many little things. I know money is very important because if you don’t have money than your life is different, you see life different. I have a family of 5 people, and then after a while I lost my store over in Scottsdale because of covid-19. My employees of that location got covid, so I brought my family in to help us out. But my employees wanted to return, even when I told them they would be putting a risk to people including me and my daughter. So, I stepped out.
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"And that was in February. For four months I stayed home, and my financial situation changed. My friend and partner who owns the business told me not to worry, and that he would help me get another restaurant. But for four months I waited. My whole life and kids were impacted because of covid-19. We were about to go homeless because I did not have the money to pay the rent. My friend said he would lend me $20,000 and I would pay the rest. And that’s how we ended up here in Chandler. For four months I couldn’t pay my rent. And the government, they helped us out. But I swear I fell into big depression because I didn’t know what was going to happen, not for me, but for my step girls. Even to me it was so hard to understand.
"Here there is a bird, a brown bird, that makes this sound. And I remember in my country we also have that kind of bird. And my mother once told me she gets depressed and sad when she hears that bird. And when I lost my business, I was sleeping at home late, and then this bird makes the sound right in front of my window. It was killing me every single morning and night. One time I said I am just going to throw stones to it. But then I thought, maybe not, that tree has been its house for years. Who am I to do that? When I was about to go homeless with my family, I also saw a cat in front of my house, he was always sleeping on my porch. And then I thought I am probably going to get kicked out, and they’re going to stay here! The bird and the cat! Because if people do not pay the rent, I’ve seen sheriffs come in and kick the people out like that. And I was so worried about it. And I said, well they are probably going to stay here, the cat and the bird, and I am just going to end up outside. But that didn’t happen.
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"Now, I have so much work and I go home late, so I don’t here the bird anymore. Because I get up early in the morning, because I go home late. I am so blessed, and I am so happy. Even for me it was so hard to understand why I went through this for some reason. Because now I can stay with my family and my girlfriend when before we lived separate lives. Before I was always there working in the other restaurant, and I was being treated like any employee. Everything was going down bad. My car broke down. One day I bought a bike, and I put it in the porch, saying nothing was going to happen since there were two cars in front of it. But somebody took it, they stole it. I got a food truck to survive, didn’t work, one day I’m pulling out and I hit a mirror from my truck, a thousand-dollar mirror. And, oh my god, I was going down. And I still have people I owe money to. But now I was like I am going to start paying them soon. And the lady for the apartment, the lease office, she told me you must apply with this sheet that you got impacted by covid, and then the government will protect you, you will not be a victim. So, my girlfriend moved quick, and the government saved us from being outside. And I feel blessed. My friend hired me because he wants to keep this business afloat and make the money its making. And right now, I don’t care about the money, I just want to pay the bills, I just want to feed my girls. If I go outside, I don’t want to say I don’t have enough money to buy you something.
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"So that’s my story. Advice I would give to other small businesses is to never give up. If your business is not working all right you have to use the media, social media now is so easy. Go outside, knock on doors! Say today I have refried beans and chorizo! You don’t have to give up. You have to pray also, don’t forget about that."
-Fernando (#13 location owner)
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For more information about this business and their menu go to: