We recently connected with Noreese Kelly-Howard and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Noreese , thanks for joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

Yes I’m Extremely happy as business owner, Since childhood it has been my dream to open up a restaurant and run a business through all obstacles, I made my dreams come true after being a Teacher for 10 years I figured I will pursue what I always wanted was my own business so by opening up my restaurant in the heart of liberty City in Miami Florida where I bring a good taste of Seafood and Soul Food to my community.I furthered my Education and obtained a Masters’s degree in business management, I also studied and persevered through reading on how to open up a restaurant throughout the years I faced several challenges as a Business owner, but I have endured all obstacles and have enjoyed all rewards as well as opening a restaurant that was the best decision since 2016 of my life.By becoming a Business owner and with God All things are possible, I always have a saying Love what you do and do what you love .

Noreese , 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 Noreese Kelly I was Born In raised in Opa Locka Florida, I opened up my restaurant in 2016. since childhood it has always been my dream of having my own business my dreams definitely came true by opening up my own establishment .I’m in the heart of Liberty City in Miami Florida, Im very hands on with my business I’m the Chef me and my husband, I love to deep fry I prepare the main food such as Macaroni &cheese,Collard greens also I make my specialty banana pudding from scratch the customers love it they also love our Porkchop sandwiches were you get 2 big Pork Chops with four slices of bread and we add lettuce and tomatoes they love it.Im known to have good customer service. I interact with my customers they always feel welcome and love to come back I’m 4 stars on Yelp and have good Google reviews.I also have a food truck that I take out and do big events and pop ups. The different aspects such as being the Chef and the owner from time to time managing cash flow and inventory, such as purchasing all items for my business its running very successfully .

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

At the Beginning of starting my Restaurant it was very smooth but doing the course of the years there were many challenges such as the pandemic the Covid 19 hit the world when we as business owners had to shut down as well but the good advantage I were a takeout business it worked out in my favor and another challenge I was Facing due to the market prices went up it took a toll on my business with these range prices on the food products as well especially for me because I deal with seafood ,those obstacles I was facing throughout the years that I have been in business.so being that everything is back on track my business is running back smooth .

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

With funding my business unfortunately I was Blessed with a good husband he had invested into my dream of opening my Restaurant when I came to him with my business plan and told him I don’t want to teach no more and I told him he won’t go wrong if he invest into me ,and that was the best investment he said he ever made with the business plan I had presented to him he saw how much I needed in my business plan ,so he had no problem with giving me the capital I needed . so without any hesitation from him there that’s how I was able to open up my restaurant Conchitup SoulFood.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Conchitupsoulfood
• Facebook: Conchitup SoulFood
• Yelp: Conchitup Soul Food

Image Credits
My cook Johnese Ross, My Husband Lavelle Howard, My Cashier Vacara Shavers, My Cook Jack, My assistant Manger Natalie Rowe, My Cashier Brianna Woods, My Dish washer Chris