Two entrepreneurs may win cash prizes for their food concepts. What are they?
Back in December, The Bee reported three of the four finalists of Downtown Sacramento Foundation’s Calling All Dreamers competition were food-related concepts. The competition is designed to help entrepreneurs develop a business plan and open a retail space within the Downtown Sacramento Foundation’s district.
Participants complete more than 10 workshops led by regional business experts on topics including marketing, financing, permitting and investor pitching.
Downtown Sacramento Foundation announced its winners on April 16. The first prize went to EcoPress, which seeks to create jewelry, keychains, home décor, furniture and other items by melting down discarded bottles and products. The business won a $20,000 prize, and will open its storefront in The Paperworks building at 1115 Front St.
Of the remaining three businesses, all of which are food-oriented, two are eligible for runner-up prizes contingent on their ability to land a lease or contract within the downtown district.
Last year’s winner, Pittador Brews Specialty Teas & Coffees, recently opened their brick-and-mortar cafe at 1005 Second St. in Old Sacramento.
BYTES Food Trucks
First runner-up is BYTES Food Trucks, which aims to create a permanent space where a rotating collective of food trucks can station, creating an easy and diverse set of dining options for people looking for a quick meal. Entrepreneur Alysha Lofton stands to receive a $10,000 prize contingent upon her participation in permitted outdoor events in the district.
To do this, Lofton aims to do proof-of-concept pop-ups at various vacant locations downtown, such as Ali Youssefi Square at 705 K St. Once she locks in a permanent location, she’ll receive the funds.
“It’s really going to go towards the land and also making it a very warm, exciting place, with lights, music, activities, events, as well as obviously somewhere to sit,” she said.
Currently, Lofton is building her database of food truck vendors to reach out to.
“I have about 35 (that are interested now). I had a list of about 70. So I’m slowly reaching out to them, saying, like, where I am in this process, what happened and what the next steps are,” Lofton said.
Vendors can access a form to submit their interest at a link in BYTES’s Instagram at @bytesinsac.
Wonderson’s Company
The second runner-up is actually a collective of three family-run businesses run by Christine Wonderson and her two adult children. The combined businesses would feature a candy store with coloring books, a cat-themed cafe and a toy store. They stand to win $5,000, again contingent on leasing a space in the downtown district.
Because of the business concept’s complexity, suitable spaces tend to be more expensive than the Wondersons have an appetite for. Working with the Calling All Dreamers advisors, Christine Wonderson is figuring how to break the business down into more achievable chunks, rather than trying to do everything at once.
“I’m a big thinker and a big dreamer, and I see the whole picture first. And it’s trying to get me to take the first steps, narrow it down — that’s where I have the challenge,” she said.
She’s been eyeing a space close to Old Sacramento.
Pizza Knights
One further business, Pizza Knights, did not place for a prize. Husband-wife team Tyler and Paloma Jimenez were unable to make their final presentation due to a scheduling conflict. The Jimenezes aspired to convert their home-based New York-style pizza hobby into a real brick and mortar.
Since they are no longer tethered to the downtown grid, they are looking to pivot their concept.
“My wife and I like the idea of creating like a truck and then popping up at breweries and events, just to build our following a little bit more as well as save up some money. I think the last thing I want to do is jump into something and owe money to somebody that gave us a loan,” Tyler Jimenez said.
Still, he’s grateful for having had the opportunity to undergo the Calling All Dreamers program.
“I think it’s a great program. I was able to learn a lot about financing a business, marketing, being able just to talk to people that work for the government, and having them kind of explain the process of it was great, and the support staff there was also excellent,” he said.
