Native American-owned Denver Eatery Achieves Entrepreneurial Dreams with CDFI Support
Client: Boar & Castle
Client Location: Denver, CO
CDFI: Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation
CDFI Service Area: National
Financing and technical assistance, with support from the Grow with Google Small Business Fund and Google.org Grant Program
When Chef Jorge Cazares and his wife Aimee, a Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member, decided to open mobile eatery Boar & Castle in Denver, Colorado, they struggled to get funding for their startup business from traditional lending institutions. Despite Jorge and Aimee’s restaurant management experience and good credit, mainstream institutions continued to deny their loan requests. Fortunately Aimee’s dad told her about Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (CPCDC) and the success stories he had heard from entrepreneurs who utilized their services.
Using CPCDC resources and guidance from their team of experts, the Cazares’ dream for Boar & Castle and the freedom of owning their own business soon became a reality. Boar & Castle features exquisite Mediterranean cuisine with the convenience of curbside service. When Jorge and Aimee’s customers are hungry for exceptional hand-rolled pasta, Spanish tapas, or a host of delicious selections, Boar & Castle caters with excellence, bringing their kitchen right to the front door for any event.
“We chose to do business with the CPCDC because we knew they would help us try to realize our dream. Aimee had gotten help through college from the tribe and it is obvious that the Center cares for their members,” said Jorge.