Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Molina. They and their team shared their story with us below:
A first-generation Colombian-American raised in Las Vegas, he is a driven & creative individual with a knack for successful multi-unit operations, leadership and scaling. At 17, he had his first experience at entrepreneurship by creating an online store selling used old-edition textbooks that his dad, a groundskeeper for UNLV, would collect at the end of every semester after they were disposed. After graduating with 50+ college credits from the local charter school, Nevada State High School, he transferred to UNLV and graduated in 2010 with a BA in Experimental Psychology. He was the first in his immediate family to earn a college degree.
During college, he excelled in the insurance industry while saving up his money for an eventual opportunity. He turned down an offer to open his own insurance agency to instead pursue opening a café. In 2013, he worked on coffee fields for a month in the countries of Colombia, Peru & Brazil and gained vast experience in specialty coffee and its dynamic process.
Energized by his life-changing trip, he became the co-founder of Makers & Finders in the Arts District in late 2014. His sophomore effort came in 2017 when he successfully opened a second location in Downtown Summerlin. In 2020, he created Take It Easy Roasters in Chinatown, Las Vegas. At this location, he and his team roast coffee bake goods and export over 60,000 empanadas annually for all Makers & Finders locations. During the summer of 2021, he opened a satellite Makers & Finders location at AREA15, serving coffee, tea and small bites. The combined revenue of his operations exceeds 5 million dollars annually. Currently, he is putting the final touches to his fifth location in Henderson, NV which opens this Spring on Valle Verde & the 215.
He plans to continue growing Makers & Finders to other cities and bringing empanadas and coffee to retail shelves nationwide.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
To be honest, I underwent a lengthy battle with imposter syndrome – doubting my abilities. The fact of the matter is, nowadays, it is easy to doubt yourself. After Makers & Finders opened in 2014, the reality of responsibility and stress kicked into overdrive. I was only 26 at the time, and my tolerance for stress was very low. It was an extremely difficult learning curve, as this was my first business operation and restaurant. Soon after I became a father to my son Hudson, which added a new layer of responsibilities I felt unprepared for. Ultimately, I felt cornered by the life I created. When you are between a rock and a hard place, there are really two options. Accept defeat or fight. I am glad I chose to fight.
These experiences were sobering, and slowly I began to find my optimal workflow. Slowly and surely, I began to build an operation that had detailed systems in place while empowering our team of over 80. The rebuilding process helped renew my mind and find new realms that gave me new strength. All the while, I strengthened the relationships that mattered most and sought advice and help during this process. Throughout it all, I persevered and kept in forward motion. These experiences helped me break through my entire being: physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally, I felt that I had become a force of nature.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Makers & Finders?
Makers & Finders is founded on three pillars. Specialty Coffee, Latin Comfort Food & Culture.
Specialty Coffee.
We aim to elevate specialty coffee by carefully sourcing high-quality green coffee from fair & transparent farms. Our coffee beans are micro-roasted in small batches to bring out the best flavors and notes. We take great pride in being a part of the incredible coffee chain! We aim to honor all the hands that came before us to offer the best coffee beverage possible. Barkeepers are trained in the art of specialty coffee brewing and beverage crafting which includes a full bar and several flavors of our specialty Mimosas.
Latin Comfort Food.
Our Latin American roots are on full display through our easy-to-navigate and inventive Brunch menu. We intend to provide artfully presented dishes with authentically derived recipes that shed light on the vast and savory world of Latin American comfort foods. Our carefully crafted menu takes Brunch to a new level, highlighting some of Central and South America’s best dishes – with a modern interpretation. We take great pride in producing fresh products that are made from scratch at every step. Our empanadas and arepas are ALWAYS handmade with love and intention.
Culture.
Being a family-owned and operated establishment, we push to gain a strong reputation in our community, while pushing to have world-class standards in service and hospitality. The atmosphere and design of our locations are extremely integral to the vision: positive affirmations are spread throughout, eclectic minimalistic design and colors to breed creativity, and underground music and beats that promote a bustling environment. Our mission is beyond food and beverage. Our ultimate goal is to create genuine memories and warm feelings through a thoughtfully created concept marrying Latin food/beverage into a unique, modern environment. Communal connections, creative conversations, and optimal co-working are encouraged and curated. We take extreme pride in living out the American dream: starting from nothing, and building Makers & Finders brick by brick. Pa La Cultura!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My most important quality as an entrepreneur is my imagination. Throughout my entire experience, I always valued maintaining and exploring my imagination. It provided a lot of inspiration that translated into creating successful products, marketing campaigns and operational systems. The more time and energy I spent in developing my imagination, the more dynamic and adaptable I became.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.makerslv.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/makerslv
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/makerslv
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-molina-93a8b148/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/makerslv
