We were lucky to catch up with Maria Narvaez And recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maria Narvaez and , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe success is not just about individual talent or ambition — it’s also about choosing the right partner, in life and in business. In my case, having my husband as my business partner has been one of the most important elements in my journey as an entrepreneur. We complement each other in the best ways — I bring the vision, creativity, and passion for community impact, while he brings financial structure, discipline, and analytical thinking as a professional accountant.

When we launched our first food truck, we took a big risk. But it was our shared trust, late-night planning sessions, and constant support through challenges that allowed us to grow. Today, we run two food trucks and a successful brick-and-mortar coffee shop. None of it would have been possible without a partner who believed in the same dream and matched my energy with action.

To me, success means building something meaningful — and that’s much easier when you’re not doing it alone, but side by side with someone who strengthens your purpose.

Maria Narvaez and , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is María Alejandra Narváez, and I’m the proud co-founder of Papelón Market Café and Papelón Arepa Bar, two businesses dedicated to celebrating and sharing authentic Venezuelan flavors with our local Michigan community. I’m originally from Venezuela, and I have a background in industrial engineering and business management — but my true passion has always been creating experiences that feel like home.

When I moved to the U.S., I noticed a gap in culturally rich, welcoming spaces for Latinos, especially those who missed the flavors, sounds, and warmth of their home countries. That’s when the idea for Papelón was born — first with one food truck, then two, and eventually with our brick-and-mortar café.

We specialize in traditional Venezuelan dishes like arepas, tequeños, and of course, our signature papelón con limón. But more than food, we offer connection. We create spaces where people gather, celebrate, and feel seen — whether they’re Latin American immigrants or curious foodies discovering our culture for the first time.

What sets us apart is our heart: we’ve built this brand as a family. My husband is my business partner, and our daughter inspires us to build something meaningful for the future. We’re proud to be part of the small business community in Michigan, and even prouder to be a voice for Latin entrepreneurship in the U.S.

We’ve grown our brand organically, focusing on quality, authenticity, and community impact. I also help other Hispanic immigrants navigate the process of starting businesses — from licensing to tax structure — because I know firsthand how hard that journey can be without the right support.

More than anything, I want people to know that Papelón is not just a business — it’s a love letter to our roots and a platform for cultural pride.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the moments that truly tested our resilience — both as a couple and as business partners — came shortly after the birth of our daughter. At the same time that we became new parents, we were launching our first food truck, building a brand from scratch, and learning how to navigate life in a new country — all without the support of family nearby.

For me personally, one of the most difficult decisions I had to make was stepping away from my career as an engineer. It was the highest income in our household, and something I had worked hard to build. But the emotional and physical toll of juggling a full-time job, a fast-growing business, and caring for a newborn was simply too much. I knew I couldn’t give my best to all three — and I chose to give everything to our shared dream.

Together, Fernando and I poured ourselves into building our business. He took the lead on kitchen management and general operations, ensuring quality, consistency, and efficiency every single day. I focused on financial planning, structuring our operations, developing partnerships, handling legal matters, managing marketing strategies, and shaping the overall customer experience.

There were many tough moments — nights without sleep, stressful inspections, learning curves, and sacrifices. But our resilience came from our unity. We showed up for each other, for our daughter, and for our vision — even when it felt overwhelming.

Today, with two food trucks and a café that continues to grow, we’re proud of what we’ve built. For us, resilience wasn’t just about surviving challenges — it was about choosing each other, choosing our purpose, and creating something meaningful for our family and our community.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that success means doing everything yourself. Early in our journey — especially coming from an engineering background — I believed that being in control of every detail was the only way to guarantee quality and growth. I used to think that if I wasn’t personally involved in every part of the business, it wouldn’t work.

But as our business evolved, I realized that mindset was holding us back. It was exhausting and unsustainable, especially with a growing family and a desire to build something long-term. When we opened our café — our most recent venture after years of food truck experience (and even earlier, selling on a table at an outdoor market in Mexican Town) — I made a very intentional choice: I designed the operations and structure so that it could run without us.

That shift changed everything. I’m incredibly proud of that decision, because it meant transitioning from working in the business to working on the business. It meant we could grow without being chained to it. We created systems, trained people, delegated responsibilities — and gave ourselves room to lead, rest, and dream bigger.

Letting go of that need to control everything wasn’t easy, but it’s been one of the most freeing and empowering decisions of my journey. It allowed me to move from survival mode to building with purpose.

To anyone who feels afraid to let go: trust that your business will grow when you stop trying to do it all alone. You didn’t build it just to burn out — you built it to live it and enjoy it!.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Papelonmarketcafe.com
• Instagram: @papelonmarketcafe / @papelonarepabar
• Facebook: Papelonmarketcafe / papelonarepabar