Exploring Life & Business with Zeus Ferrini Mercedes Rojas of The Arepa Stand

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zeus Ferrini Mercedes Rojas.

Hi Zeus Ferrini, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
One evening, my sister Mercedes Rojas and I, Zeus Ferrini, were enjoying a glass of wine when Mercedes came up with the idea of starting an arepa business. It wasn’t completely out of the blue. Mercedes had previously worked at Lucques, where she used to make arepas for staff meals. They were something she loved making and sharing with her coworkers, and that experience eventually inspired the idea of bringing arepas to a wider audience.

What started as a casual conversation between two siblings slowly turned into something much bigger than either of us could have imagined.

Growing up with Venezuelan food, we wanted to share a little piece of our culture with the Los Angeles community. Our vision was to introduce people to Venezuelan arepas while bringing our own creativity and personality to the experience.

Our journey began at the **Mar Vista Farmers Market**, where we set up our very first stand. In the beginning, we did pretty much everything ourselves, from prepping the food and loading the truck to setting up the stand and serving customers. There were plenty of early mornings, long days, and challenges along the way, but we believed in what we were building.

Little by little, people started discovering our food. Customers became regulars, regulars became friends, and before we knew it, we had built an incredible community around The Arepa Stand.

As the business grew, we expanded into other farmers markets across Los Angeles, including Playa Vista, Torrance, and Hollywood. We also started offering catering services, bringing our Venezuelan food to private parties, corporate events, and celebrations.

Eventually, we took our biggest step yet: **opening our first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Mar Vista**, the very same neighborhood where our journey began. Being able to open our restaurant in the community that supported us from day one made the experience even more meaningful.

It hasn’t always been easy. Building a business from scratch comes with sacrifices, long hours, unexpected challenges, and a lot of learning along the way. But we’ve always believed in what we’re creating, and being able to do it together as brother and sister makes it even more special.

Today, The Arepa Stand has grown from a single farmers market stand into a business with a restaurant, multiple farmers markets, and catering services. But no matter how much we grow, we never want to lose what made us special in the first place: good food, genuine hospitality, and a strong connection to our community.

Looking back, it’s pretty incredible to think that something Mercedes used to make for her coworkers at Lucques eventually became an idea over a glass of wine in our living room, and then grew into what The Arepa Stand is today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Starting a business comes with its fair share of challenges, and our journey has been no different. There have been long nights, tears, sacrifices, and plenty of lessons learned along the way.

I think when most people start a business, they don’t necessarily have a solid business plan or even know if their idea is going to work. That’s how it was for Mercedes and me. We had an idea, a passion for what we were doing, and the determination to make it happen. We were learning as we went.

One of our biggest challenges has been figuring out how to grow while managing everything that comes with running a business. Going from one farmers market to multiple locations, catering events, and eventually opening our first restaurant has been exciting, but also overwhelming at times. Every stage has brought a new set of challenges and responsibilities.

Along the way, we’ve learned how important it is to have a plan, stay focused, and stick to your goals. But we’ve also learned that things rarely go exactly as planned. Sometimes you have to adapt, make difficult decisions, and pivot when life throws something unexpected your way.

I think one of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that passion can get you started, but discipline, consistency, and resilience are what keep you going.

We’re still figuring things out and learning every day. Looking back, some of our toughest moments have taught us the most, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences because they’ve helped shape both us and The Arepa Stand into what we are today.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Arepa Stand is a Venezuelan street food business founded by my sister, Mercedes Rojas, and me, Zeus Ferrini. We specialize in arepas, a traditional Venezuelan dish made from corn that is naturally gluten-free. Our goal has always been simple: to share a little piece of Venezuela with Los Angeles through great food, fresh ingredients, and genuine hospitality.

What makes us different is how we approach our food. We respect our Venezuelan roots, but we also like to get creative. Our menu combines traditional Venezuelan flavors with influences from Los Angeles, which is why our arepas have names like The 405, The Westsider, and The Hills. Each one has its own personality, just like the neighborhoods that inspire us.

We make our arepas fresh, with a variety of fillings, from slow-cooked meats and chicken to plantains, black beans, cheeses, and fresh vegetables. We also offer vegetarian and vegan options, along with our signature homemade sauces: avocado, garlic, and spicy.

We started at the Mar Vista Farmers Market, and that experience really shaped who we are as a brand. Farmers markets allowed us to connect directly with our customers, hear their feedback, and build relationships with the community. We weren’t just selling food; we were getting to know the people who supported us every weekend.

Today, The Arepa Stand has grown to include multiple farmers markets across Los Angeles, catering services for private parties and corporate events, and our first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Mar Vista. Through our catering, we offer both drop-off and on-site experiences, where we prepare arepas fresh for guests, just like we do at the farmers markets.

What I’m most proud of is that we’ve been able to build a brand that feels like us. From our tiger logo and colorful personality to the food we serve, everything reflects a little bit of who we are. We never wanted The Arepa Stand to feel like just another restaurant. We wanted it to have character, to be approachable, and to create an experience people remember.

But more than anything, we’re proud of the community we’ve built. Seeing customers who first discovered us at the farmers market now walking into our restaurant is something really special. Some of those customers have been supporting us since the beginning, and that means a lot to Mercedes and me.

I think what we want people to know is that The Arepa Stand is more than just a place to grab an arepa. It’s a family business built from a simple idea, a lot of hard work, and a genuine love for sharing our culture.

We’re proud of our Venezuelan roots, proud to be part of the Los Angeles food community, and excited to continue introducing more people to what an arepa can be.

At the end of the day, we want people to enjoy good food, feel welcome, and hopefully leave with a little piece of Venezuela.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thearepastand.co
• Instagram: @thearepastand
• Facebook: @thearepastand
• Yelp: thearepastand

Image Credits
Zeus Ferrini