Meet Faustino Lopez | Entrprenuer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Faustino Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Faustino, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
During the pandemic, I was furloughed from my IT job of 16 years. It is an aviation company and they were hit very hard. They were on the brink of bankruptcy. I was furloughed with the promise that I would be recalled in three months. Suffice to say like millions of other americans at the time, I faced with the possibility I would not be recalled, the unemployment system in Florida was overwhelmed and unable to provide financial assistance and jobs at the time were scarce at best. Clearly, my *ss was handed to me. I was down and out. My wife being the ultimate optimist, began to lobby me to go a different direction. God, the universe, fate, were telling me in a very blunt and specific way that the safe and secure bet I relied on for so many years no longer existed or which is my true belief now in retrospect, never did exist. I began to apply for other jobs in other industries but no one was calling so my wife pushed me to look into starting a business specifically a fast casual franchise. Anyone in their right mind would not have considered opening a restaurant let alone any business in the middle of a once every 100 years pandemic but I found myself researching franchises. I researched many franchises from Subway to Jersey Mike’s, Dunkin, Chk fil A, etc… Also researched different niches and markets. Almost three weeks into my furlough, I went to Home Depot to buy a hose to repair the washer. I was hungry but nothing was open in the area due to the pandemic except for a Tropical Smoothie Cafe. There was a long line in front of the store and they were only taking orders via the app and serving the food via a makeshift window at the front door. I made the line and downloaded the app. To be quite honest, I have noticed this particular store but have never tried it. I ordered a Baja Chicken wrap with a Peanut Paradise smoothie. It was the most delicious smoothie I have ever had. The next day, I went back and ordered two other smoothies and sandwiches. On the third day, I took my wife and she loved it as well. I went back a few days later and spoke with customers that were waiting and they all were obvious fans and one told me that his first taste of a Tropical Smoothie cafe smoothie was in Tallahassee, FL which led me to learn Tropical Smoothie cafe had over 1000 locations . After much research and discussion, my wife was convinced Tropical Smoothie Cafe would be a great investment with the potential for enormous growth. As luck will have it, my job qualified for a PSP loan from the government and I was recalled 26 days later. By then, we had already made the decision and take a leap of faith. I kept my job during the process of finding a site which took almost a year. We are now about three months from opening.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
You would think that my career in the IT field of 26 years would not prepare me for the food service industry but it actually did. I have had the pleasure of working with all kinds of amazing people from all parts of the world. I have learned to work with different types of personalities and learn better ways of doing things from different cultures. Find solutions fairly quickly with little to no information. Find irregularities in financial records as well as work with high level management teams in day to day business operations. Manage projects and deliver within very tight timelines. I have become accustomed to working under heavy pressure and stress on a daily basis and come to recognize that whether the customer is internal or external, they are priority one. Keeping costs in check is always critical. As I embark on this new journey, I take my expertise and experience with me but this time I apply it to my own business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would go bar hopping in Wynwood from Brick to No 3 Social to Racket and Gramps. Grab some awesome tacos at Coyo Taco and jam at the bar behind Coyo Taco. I will also take him on a drive down to Key West stopping first at Alabama Jack’s on Card Sound and bar hop and eat at the great local spots. Would spend time in Ft. Lauderdale beach as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout goes to my dad. A Cuban immigrant fleeing Castor’s regime always told me find something you are passionate about and you will never work a day in your life. My father was in a wheelchair for 49 years of his life. He passed away at the age of 70. The word “cannot” or “can’t” did not exist in his vocabulary and he instilled those same ethics in me. As I embark on this new journey, the hard work and dedication that will be required to be successful will not be as difficult for me because of him.

Website: www.10fwdinc.com

Instagram: tsc_miapalmlakes

Facebook: tscpalmlakesmia

Other: 10 Forward Inc D.B.A. Tropical Smoothie Cafe 18050 NW 57th avenue Unit 104 Hialeah, FL 33015

Image Credits
Shandis Cabrera, Nicole Marie, Gabriella Castro