Juan & Lisa Garcia

El Sol Mexican Restaurant, Harrisburg
$100,000 loan

BOASTING AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE AT ITS FINEST, JUAN AND LISA GARCIA ARE THE PERFECT COUPLE TO OWN A RESTAURANT. Juan has more than 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry and firsthand knowledge of authentic cuisine (he grew up in the Guadalajara region of Jalisco, Mexico). Lisa has more than 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry and shares in Juan’s understanding of Mexican culture, having spent time there after they married. It was only natural that the Garcias use their background to open an upscale restaurant in downtown Harrisburg.

Juan and Lisa worked with Ben Parra of Community First Fund to obtain financing for their start-up costs. “Community First Fund’s loan helped cover expenses so that we were able to expand our menu options, making our business more popular and ultimately more profitable”, noted Lisa. “While owning this restaurant requires a lot of juggling of our schedules – we have two small children – the experience has been rewarding in many ways.”