Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Rodriguez Echeverri.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jeffrey. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My father started out in the music business as a DJ and was able to open his first nightclub, Dynasty club bar, in 1986. Using his love of music, along with his Colombian heritage, he decided to open the original Pueblito Viejo in Chicago in 1994. Pueblito Viejo is inspired by my parents’ heritage and the music my dad’s mother played for him throughout his youth. Pueblito Viejo was born from the idea of mixing a nightclub-vibe with a family-friendly restaurant, hence, why entertainment and the lively atmosphere are such a big part of our charm.
We opened the second location in Miami in 2003, where I started working the register and would do the purchasing for the restaurant. After I graduated College — with a degree in communications and public relations – my parents forced me to work elsewhere, so I worked at a variety of public relations agencies and continued to work with Style Saves, a non-profit organization. In 2016, I was finally able to work for the family business where I started at the tables, in the kitchen, the bar and finally was able to buy the Chicago location from my parents and assumed the role of Director of Operations overseeing both locations.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Working in public relations was great because I learned a lot about the industry, promotions, and productions of events – which I have been able to incorporate into my work at Pueblito Viejo. When I purchased the Chicago location in 2016, I came in fairly experienced, but to a new market. My vision was to rebuild the brand, after all, having a successful restaurant in booming cities like Chicago and Miami is no easy task.
It’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to buy an established brand (I have clients that still come to Pueblito Viejo 23 years later), but I had to really work to bring a new vibe into the Chicago location. I redesigned the restaurant, menu and integrated a new cocktail program to really cater to a new clientele along with our beloved regulars. My new décor wasn’t so much a departure from the “controlled-chaos” that Pueblito Viejo is, but I refreshed it with new, fun details my artistic father is proud of: including new tiles, paints, art installations and a fun neon sign that reads ‘Check it out baby’, which was a gift to my dad. That’s his favorite line when he MCs, so I’ve made it a part of the vibe. Fortunately, it has thrived.
Our Miami location has grown so much in the last couple years, we’re so proud of our hard-working team and leadership, we’ve become a big part of the community.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We offer a sensory-overload! We’re a lively family-oriented restaurant offering traditional Colombian fare, but we’re not limited to just food and drink! We offer this fun-filled, party atmosphere with live shows, comedy shows, DJs and a dance floor.
We’re extremely proud of the nostalgia we offer patrons: many clients speak fondly of remembering their home countries when they visit us. We’re proud of our cuisine, we’re proud of our atmosphere including the international music we play. We’re proud to be a part of this loving community.
The menu is filled with traditional dishes, using high-quality, locally sourced products. We have all the classics like Bandejas, (seasoned skirt steak served with red beans, rice, fried pork rinds, sweet plantains, egg, and arepa); Churrascos (flame grilled outside-skirt steak, with fried sweet plantains, cassava, salted boiled potatoes and homemade chimichurri); and Sanchochos (rich beef rib stew with potatoes, cassava, green plantains and corn).
We are proud to have two successful restaurants with loyal followings for over 24 years. We are proud of our heritage and love that guests receive an authentic Colombian experience when they walk through the doors.
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
