Calling All Entrepreneurs - PowerUP Business Plan Competition

Bogota Letter of the Day

Dear Bogota:

We invite you to join us for the 2005 PowerUP! Business Plan Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 11, 1:00-2:00 pm at the Brooklyn Business Library (280 Cadman Plaza West) in Brooklyn Heights. We would like to recognize you at this event as being the 2003 PowerUP! Winner and to have you join us in congratulating this year's winners.

There will be an Entrepreneur Expo that morning which runs from 10:30am until 1:00 pm. The PowerUP! Ceremony announcing the winners will immediately follow the Expo. Representatives from business service agencies will exhibit information about programs and services for entrepreneurs. We are very excited to have the Borough President, our corporate sponsors, and other elected officials present to bring recognition to all of the potential and realized business start-ups in our borough.

Thank you for your enthusiasm and participation. Please RSVP by calling us.

Sincerely,
Susan Phillis
Chief, Business Library

Unexpected Delays

Oh we could give you an opening date but it's given with fingers crossed, incense burning and candles to Saint Jude lit at this point. Everything could seem to be on target but then the unexpected happens such as delays by KeySpan in turning on the gas or, as pictured here, discovering that the cellar door meant for receiving is so old and rusty because it hadnt' been opened in years that its hinges are corroded and now the whole door needs to be replaced. Another delay, another expense. If you've ever thought about opening up your own business, always account for the 'unexpected' on your calendar and in your budget. Include an allowance for incense and candles too.

Some Bogota Media Exposure

Did I tell you that we were interviewed for a documentary for Verizon Tuesday afternoon at the restaurant? From my understanding, Verizon is re-branding themselves as a broadband company and they were looking for stories of people who have benefitted as a result of the internet. I threw out a proposal on profiling us, our restaurant, our journey and our weblog and they liked the idea.

People are shocked that we would have gotten this kind of opportunity even though we're not open yet. They are as surprised that our website is featured in Restaurant Business magazine right next to Bobby Flay's website. I think what surprises a number of people is to see our accomplishments. "How did you manage to get featured," someone asked me. I tell them, "Hey, it's all part of the groundwork we've been laying for the past almost 3 years." A lot of people spend their time working and consumming. Isn't that what America is about: consumption and making money? I come home and spend time thinking about the business, thinking about my future, thinking about creating and thinking about making a difference on many levels.

From what I was told, parts of the documentary may end up as part of their media campaign which would include internet banner ads and even being featured on the Reuters screen in Times Square. Imagine that! I hold no expectations that Bogota Bistro will be featured up there but, hey, it's nice to think about the possibility.

Just imagine our startup process being featured in a Verizon ad. Even if we don't get featured, it was good practice being interviewed for future interviews. I do want to close by saying that the two guys who conducted the interview with us, Todd and Mark, were very cool guys. I wish I had taken their pictures holding their recording equipment for the blog! Drats!

Follow-up: I received the following email today:

"Hi Farid – I heard your interview went well! Can you forward this to your partner as well for him to fill out?

Thank you very much for taking the time to tell us your broadband story.

Your story was great and we’re busy editing the footage into a short digital video documentary that may be featured on our website, which will launch in early June.

As part of our website, everyone who we interview will have their own online profile. If you could take a few minutes to fill out the profile information online, it will help us make your personal story as interesting and unique as possible.

We’re really excited about how your video will positively affect the launch of our site and look forward to getting more compelling information about your story.
If you have any questions about the profile information attached or the Broadband Stories campaign, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

The various assets we collect for Broadband Stories may appear in a Verizon advertising campaign in video, photo or written form.

Thanks!

Cristina"

Cool Email of the Day

Dear Bogota!

Hi, finally a funky Colombian restaurant, I'm just wondering when are you guys opening the place, So I can be in the 1st hundred. Good luck on your business. I will spread the word you guys are coming to town.
hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks
La Chica Paola

Fabulous Fifth Avenue Festival

Just some of the MANY highlights from this past Sunday's Fabulous Fifth Avenue Festival.


We had no idea what we would do and decided to just set up a tent, a table, some chairs, and spread out our business cards and say "hi" to people. The response was overwhelming. So many people stopped by. We saw old friends and made many new ones. People are SO excited about us coming to the block and opening up. "HURRY UP!" we heard over and over.


Yes, our friend, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who has seen us grow along the way since winning the Brooklyn Public Library's PowerUP Business Plan Competition. Marty told us that when we're ready, we could give his office a call and he would arrange a dinner at Bogota with a group of civic leaders to help promote Bogota. Most definitely!


Chris was one of my best friends in high school and we lost touch until recently when I found him - how else - through the internet. Sunday was the first time we've seen each other since 1982 -- that's almost a quarter of a century! Chris brought along his charming wife, Wanda, who I met for the first time. I trust that it will be the first of many times we'll see each other.

A Cool Email We Received Today

CONGRATULATIONS! Yolanda just forwarded your email about what's happening with your new venture... It sounds as if things are moving along nicely. I've been wondering how you were doing and just never got the time to ask Nancy or anyone at the BOC Center how things were progressing for you. Keep us posted on your Grand Opening. God Bless.

Darlene

--
Darlene E. Mullally
Legislative Director
NYS Assembly Small Business Committee

"Doing All The Right Things"

A friend of mine, Marybeth, likes to say that we are "doing all the right things" along the way towards opening up this restaurant. Yesterday was the annual Fabulous Fifth Avenue Festival in Brooklyn. George and I have never done a street fair together but we decided a couple of months ago that we would participate in the Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair. The gas in the restaurant isn't turned on yet thus we couldn't sell food but in spite of this, we decided to rent out the 10'x10' space in front of the restaurant. We debated several times on what we would do for the festival but decided at the last minute to just pitch a carp and set up a table promoting the restaurant in addition to giving people a chance to enter a raffle to win gift certificates. We had also sent an email to all our friends and associates inviting them to the street festival.

It turned out to be a very exciting day. We have so many people stop by our table expressing delight and anticipation for the opening of Bogota. I never realized how many Colombians lived in Brooklyn nor how many lament the fact that there are no Colombian restaurants in Brooklyn. The Colombians who passed by felt an instant connection with the restaurant we're opening and asked that we please have favorite dishes of theirs on the menu such as the Bandeja Paisa, the Carne Asada, Ajiaco soup and arepas.

We met many other neighborhood locals who are also eager and excited for something new and something latin to open up in the area. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz passed by and congratulated us for our perseverance. Marty was there to present us with our $10,000 dollar check when George and I won the Brooklyn Business Library's Best Business Plan Competition back in November of 2003.

George's family came by and brought food for us and for the numerous friends who stopped by to see the space and wish us well. So many friends stopped by that it would be impossible for me to list them all. In addition, we had close to 150 people sign up for our email list. A friend of mine who I hadn't seen since the early 1980's visited as did an old college buddy of mine who I hadn't seen in a few years also. Writers and editors for the New York Post's Tempo section and the Park Slope Reader stopped by also to introduce themselves and offer to do write-ups on us once we open. .

As I said earlier, my friend Marybeth likes to say "You guys are doing all the right things." We are creating some amazing experiences for ourselves and for all those around us. Thanks to everyone who showed up to express your love, encouragement and support. I'll post a couple of pictures later.