Tacos del Barrio: 18-Year-Old Founder's Rapid Rise in Prospect Heights

Tacos del Barrio: A Prospect Heights Success Story

• 🌮 Tacos del Barrio, a new taco spot in Prospect Heights, is earning rave reviews.
• 💡 The owner, Aiden Sterling, was just 18 years old when he helped open the restaurant.
• 🚀 Sterling aims to grow an empire, having opened the first location on March 17th and experiencing upward momentum since.

Balancing School and Entrepreneurship

• 📚 Sterling juggled high school from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with work at Tacos del Barrio from 12:00 p.m. to around 2:00 p.m.
• 🎨 He always desired to create something of his own, seeking creativity and freedom over a traditional 9-to-5.
• 📈 He acknowledges learning and being guided by others while still developing his entrepreneurial skills.

Menu Philosophy and Quality

• 🎯 The menu is intentionally not too big, adhering to a "less is more" philosophy for simplicity and focus.
• 🥩 Offerings include eight proteins like chicken, steak, al pastor, fish, and shrimp.
• 🐟 Sterling highlights the fish taco as a personal favorite, emphasizing its freshness and lack of fishiness.

Pricing, Team, and Future Expansion

• 💰 Sterling focuses on fair pricing despite rising costs, aiming to serve the people of New York while maintaining quality.
• ✅ He believes having a good team is the most important factor for success in the restaurant industry.
• 📍 The second location is planned to open in the Financial District in 2-3 months, with a goal to expand rapidly while preserving flavor consistency.