(This story is part of series introducing a new awards program by the Dayton Business Journal called Inno Under 25, about young entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners in the Dayton region.)
Growing up and working in a family-owned restaurant, 21-year-old Jazline Gomez decided to open and run her own restaurant, Pepe’s Mexican Flavors, one year before a global pandemic.
“I always had a passion for business and an interest in the restaurant industry. Many recipes are family-owned, and I came up with them,” Gomez said. “It was a lot of trial and error, but I really enjoyed it. I enjoy seeing how food brings people together. It’s a universal language. As we opened and I learned so much from my business, my customers and staff in such a short time they made my passion grow.”
Pepe’s Mexican Flavors, located at 6114 Chambersburg Rd in Huber Heights, opened its doors in April 2019, offering street-vendor-styled food often found in Mexico. Gomez named the restaurant after her father who taught her everything she knows about business. She said the name adds “a touch of home” for customers.
Before her grand opening, Gomez was attending college full time at Wright State University. A year later, the pandemic struck, leaving Gomez to struggle as a new business owner and remote student. Eventually, Gomez decided to put her studies to the side to keep her business open and running.
“It’s hard to be a small business owner and a student (during a pandemic),” Gomez said. “It was impossible to be both.”
Throughout the pandemic, Gomez managed to keep her eight employees on staff with reduced hours as she knew they relied on her for a paycheck, no matter how small.
“It was one of the hardest times,” Gomez said. “The restaurant was still a baby when the pandemic hit. The first year you’re trying to get people to know you and to trust your dishes to come back. That’s usually the first year and a half. When the pandemic happened, it was right in the middle of when people are supposed to be coming back.”
Gomez’s goal for her business in the next year is to introduce new dishes to the menu, including seasonal items, and get the location running at its full capacity.
‘It’s a small business compared to what people imagine,” Gomez said. “We’re getting there. I hope that short term Dayton becomes more aware that we’re there and we’re trying.”
Gomez is pursuing a dual major in psychology and Spanish at Wright State University. Eventually, when her business is self-running, she will decide whether she wants to use her degree and change careers.
Pepe's Mexican Flavors
Founded: 2019
Owner: Jazline Gomez
Website: social media @PepesMexicanFlavors
Service: Mexican street-style food
Location: 6114 Chambersburg Rd in Huber Heights
