Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Benitez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Adrian. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We started selling fish 17 years ago off a truck right around the corner from the shopping center. Literally on the side of the street. Every other week we would get kicked out and had to move around Hialeah Gardens but for the most part it was in the same spot. At the beginning, we started with commercial shrimping. Then commercial fishing and after a long night of fishing, we would come to our trucks to sell the fish. As the years passed, we met more and more people and had our own commercial fisherman fishing for our fresh catches so we got rid of the stress and sleepless nights and days and dedicated ourselves only to selling. Rain or shine we would be in our spot. Never took a single day off for a holiday, for a birthday, nothing. 3 years ago, they built a shopping center just a couple of feet from the place where we parked our trucks. At first, we were scared about losing the spot we had been in for so long, but instead we were blessed to grab the first corner spot in the shopping center and open up Adrian Fish.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been the toughest journey of my life thus far. Many see the restaurant now and think wow this people hit the jackpot. But they forget the 17 years in a truck around the corner and why we were able to have the clientele we have today. We wanted to open up a fish market and instead opened up a market and restaurant where people could pick what they wanted to eat. We knew nothing about the restaurant and hospitality business. But the hardest part for me was not being able to control everything.
I was always used to being the person who dealt with every customer. I knew how to talk to them, how to treat them, how to sell to them. Now with the hiring of over 20 employees, it was hard to control and do exactly as I wanted them to be.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Adrian Fish Market & Restaurant – what should we know?
We have a restaurant that specializes in fried whole fish, from hog snapper to yellowtails and a fish market where people can come and take seafood home for a party or whatever instead of having to eat here.
I think what I’m most proud of as a company is how family oriented we are. Everyone is family here. From our employees to our customers.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The support of my family deserves all the credit in the world. Without them and God, none of this would be possible.
Contact Info:
- Address: 13115 West Okeechobee Road, Hialeah, FL 33018
- Website: adrianfishseafood.com
- Phone: 3056005633
- Email: adrianfish08@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/adrianfish_seafood
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/adrianfishseafood
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