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“Aye, muy delicioso!”

Koffee Klatch, on Sunshine Strip in Harlingen, has been
providing city residents and surrounding communities with
“good’ol” home-style cooking since 1953. New owners Oscar
and Rosalinda Martinez intend on keeping it that way.
For the last twenty-four years, Mr. Martinez has owned,
managed, and worked in restaurants, including his own
restaurant in Matamoros, Mexico, managing 10 employees.
After much thought and deliberation, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez
were ready to take on a new business venture.
Oscar and Rosalinda sought the assistance of The Small
Business Development Center at The University of Texas-Pan
American and received guidance from Pablo Calafiore in
developing a business plan and financial projections for the
Koffee Klatch.
It was not always easy: The Martinez family faced some
challenges and roadblocks in their path towards business
ownership. These, however, were no match for Mr. Martinez’
knowledge and experience in the restaurant business
When asked what advice he would give new restaurant
owners, Mr. Martinez responds: “Know the business.” Indeed,
his ability to train his employees comes from almost
twenty-five years of experience in doing it all – from
scrubbing the floors and washing dishes to being head cook.
So what does the future hold for Oscar and Rosalinda
Martinez? With the help of the SBDC they would like to
continue to build on their business ownership momentum and
success and open another establishment in the Upper Rio
Grande Valley.
Mr. Martinez has some additional words of wisdom for any
person planning on starting his own business: “Entrepreneurs
need to take advantage of the SBDC and their resource
partners.”
The Koffee Klatch is located at 101 S. 77 Sunshine Strip
in Harlingen. The business phone number is (956) 412-7963.
For further information on the services offered by the
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA), please call the SBDC at (956)
292-7535.
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