Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danette Calhoun. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Danette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.
Every year La Fogata Restaurants donate 25% of sales to Project Angel Heart. An organization that feeds people in need. La Fogata’s also participate in donating various gift certificates to different schools and churches in our communities.
We are also donors to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Danette Aguirre. (Calhoun by marriage) Thanks to my mom and dad’s work habits thought to myself and all my siblings. I became a workaholic thought out my life.
From working at McDonalds, Burger King while in school. Teacher’s aide and many more trades. I end up working as a server at one of my brother-in-law’s restaurant. Where I learn to serve. Also I liked to help at the bar and kitchen to be more useful. People would make fun of me because I was always trying to learn whatever came my way.
I started saving my tips with something big in mind. (Some co-workers would make fun of me because I was driving an old bit-up car and they were driving brand new ones. They did’t understand why if I was making such good money. Why wasn’t I buying a new car? Sometimes I got frustrated and wanted to do the same thing. But I had a goal in mind. So I would say to myself. Keep saving so you can accomplish your dreams.
After 10 years of been a serverLa Fogata came to be. And I can proudly say it’s been a very successful ride. Yes. I worked 16 hours days. But I now own two of the most well know Mexican Food Restaurants in Denver.
I’m proud to say. La Fogata’s have a tremendous following in our communities. We always try to treat our customers as family. And after 30 years in the business. It’s incredible to see our customer’s children return to the restaurant because this is what they knew growing up from their mom and dad’s favorite place.
La Fogata supports our schools, churches and anyone in need. Maybe that’s why during COVID we has a tremendous amount of support from our community.
La Fogata’s has been serving our customers only fresh food made in our kitchens daily and they know it.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
As I mentioned; Saving my tips over 10 years and with the help of my husband and his work. Is that we were able to open the business. The first 6 months were very hard. I really had not too much experience running a business. And did not know how many different bills I had to pay. (Insurance, taxes and so much more)
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I had put all my hard earned savings into this business. I wasn’t going to give up that easy. There were times when we had to choose whether to pay the rent or make the house payment. It was definitely the rent. So we fall behind on our mortgage. Leaving our kids with nannies all the time. Was one of the things I regret the most. (till this day) But I was able to send them to college and give them a better life.
Contact Info:
- Website: lafogatadenver.com
- Instagram: lafogata
- Facebook: lafogatadenver