Today we’d like to introduce you to Wanda Davila.
Hi Wanda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico and my husband grew up in Piedras Negras, Coahuila (Mexico). We arrived to Atlanta in 2018 for a dream job opportunity that was presented to him and I decided to leave my career in information management to return to the arts and start a business.
Leaving my career in Washington, DC and starting from scratch was not easy but has been very rewarding. For years we discussed the possibility of starting a business and found a property that would allow me to take that plunge after leaving. I wanted to create a space where community and business could come together and allow micro-businesses to reach their audience. We chose the name El Patio, which loosely translates to backyard because this brings memories of a space that is welcoming for all to get together.
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?
Starting my first business has not been smooth, especially when you are new to a city. The first big hurdle was getting the space renovated into the vision we had for the business. The second big hurdle was getting a business license due to the unusual business model of short-term rental of commercial space.
All my savings went into this project and was left starting from zero, so I was ready to start making back my investment. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US in March 2020, just as the renovation was complete. We made the decision to stay closed until we could comfortably open doors and keep our clients and their customers safe. We managed to open in August 2020 when I got contacted by my first client to host a pop-up shop. Since opening, the struggles have been more along the lines of time and resources. Slowly but surely, I am finding ways to streamline administrative tasks but a lack of resources does get in the way.
We’ve been impressed with El Patio Pop-Up Shop, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We provide a storefront where community and business can come together. Many small businesses and artists only need short-term access to a brick-and-mortar location where they can meet their audience in person and we can provide that. We chose the name El Patio, which loosely translates to the backyard, to share with our clients our family memories of a space that is welcoming, casual, and where flowers and fruit trees grow. We specialize in short-term rental of our storefront for pop-up shops and other types of events.
El Patio Pop-Up Shop is a colorful space with warm vibes that transports you to the Caribbean and is clean and turn key. We provide many amenities (tables, table cloths, chairs, clothing racks, cleaning supplies) that allow our clients to only bring their merchandise. I try to meet all of our clients in person and chat with them to learn about their products. I also post on social media, google, and website about the incoming clients to spread the word about their products. As a past information manager, I am inclined to share as much information possible to inform my clients ahead of their events and contribute my grain of sand to their success.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can support us by supporting our clients’ events and the small businesses in our neighborhood. I also love to collaborate with local chefs and host virtual cooking classes. In 2020, I hosted about four cooking classes with Chef Raúl Thomas, where people learned how to cook traditional Puerto Rican cuisine.
Pricing:
- $100 per day + $30 security deposit
- $180 for two days + $60 security deposit
- $270 for three days + $90 security deposit
Contact Info:
- Email: wanda@elpatiopopupshop.com
- Website: https://elpatiopopupshop.com/
- Instagram: @elpatiopopupshop
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/elpatiopopupshop/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-patio-pop-up-shop-atlanta
Image Credits:
Some of the photos were taken by Glass Eyed Tigress
