Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy and everyone does it a little differently. Some open online stores, while others open brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Some go all in and invest their lives into a new venture, while others start a new business as something to do on the side. Regardless of the type, entrepreneurs help drive the local economy.

VALDOSTA — Alberto Sanchez, owner/manager of Empanadas and More, started working with food at a young age helping his father. 

His father worked several jobs in his home country of Colombia, and Sanchez worked with his father with various foods.

Eventually, Sanchez left Colombia and came to America.

“When I came to this country for the first time it was in 1992 — you know the immigrant journey is not always easy — the food business was my only option at a very informal business in Miami, Fla.,” he said.

It wasn’t until 1995 that Sanchez found his first food job in America. While working in Miami, Sanchez interacted with many people of Latin American descent while delivering and serving food in a food truck.

After working in Miami until 2000, Sanchez moved to Orlando, Fla., and worked for a food business that was a little more formal. His main clients were construction companies, governmental offices and other businesses.

“Then in 2007 the real estate crash came and put us down to nothing, and because we were providing food for construction companies, we lost everything,” he said.

Sanchez and his family settled in Valdosta in 2008 when he found a job.

About five years later, Sanchez and his family opened a restaurant in town. He and his family went with empanadas because they are not a food associated with one particular Latin country.

After choosing the type of business, Sanchez accepted the risk of opening the restaurant, but he didn’t want to sell food. He wanted to sell confidence.

“When you start with these businesses, the most high-risk type of business, when I grew up in Colombia, we went to the American movies, and when you saw the ‘Made in America’ sign, you never questioned the quality.

“We make sure that you are getting quality. Everything from the Americas, the tools, the jeans, the Levis, was made with quality, and that is something that we want to keep here.

“(It was) personal touch we found that we are missing,” he said. “That personal contact with people, with our community. In a culture of faster and faster, you can’t do (make personal connections) in the food business.

“… You can lose sight of the essential idea of food business that is to provide care for our community. We don’t sell food at the end; we sell confidence.

“When you pass that door to buy our empanada, and you are putting that in your body, and we want to make sure that you trust that it is made with quality. That is part of our success here.”

Sanchez not only offers titular empanadas, but two or three different fresh, homemade meals each day.

Sanchez said his business had record numbers last year. He attributes his success to several factors including being a mom-and-pop business that makes homemade food.

Other factors for success include having the right team that will “follow the processes, the rules and the safety procedures” to ensure the food is top quality and having the support of the community.

Because Sanchez said he has the support of the community, he feels he is an ambassador to Valdosta. Since opening his restaurant, Sanchez has served people from not only all over the country but all over the world.

Empanadas and More, 402 Northside Drive, Suite C, is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (229) 245-5355. 

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.