This experience has taught me the importance of discipline, strength, empowerment, and resilience …
It was surprising to realize that
I am far more capable than I had ever imagined."
Production Credits
Associate Art Director: Clara Shader-Seave
Producer: Becca Solovay
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“The name Caripito’s pays homage to the town where my grandparents and mother were born,” Cuartas says. “If you observe the design of the truck closely, you will notice watermarks featuring specific images of places that hold sentimental value to me, such as Cuyagua Beach, a soccer stadium, the square near my building, the bridge connecting the two cities I daily commuted [between] for work … these elements make Caripito’s a reflection of my identity.”
While starting Caripito’s was of course exciting and the fruition of
a dream Cuartas had long harbored, small business ownership never comes without challenges. Back in 2021, many restaurants and businesses in New York City were still either closed or operating under heavy restrictions, so Cuartas knew a brick-and-mortar restaurant probably wasn’t the right move.
“The idea of running a mobile food business seemed like the most viable option for me at the time,” she says. And in just a few short years, Cuartas, who has a degree in business communication, has managed to build an incredibly loyal clientele.
Open five days a week between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Caripito’s travels between three locations throughout the city. The community the business has built with its clients is so strong, they’ve actually
been an integral part of Cuartas’ small-business puzzle.
W
hile 2020 was a tough year, for many, it may have also been a wake-
up call to make much-needed life changes. For Venezuelan-born
Vanessa Cuartas, it came in the form of reassessing her commitment to her corporate job. After becoming severely ill with COVID-19, Cuartas says she was suddenly "acutely aware of the brevity and fragility of life, prompting me to reevaluate my priorities." She realized it was time to live a life with more purpose, and on her own terms.
“I yearned for a safe work environment where I could dictate my own schedule,” she says. “With that in mind, I made the bold decision to use my savings to purchase an old truck, renovate it, and embark on my journey as an independent business woman.”
Having briefly owned a restaurant back in Venezuela, Cuartas returned to the culinary world in 2021, this time, with a food truck she named Caripito's. From the very start, Caripito’s was about honoring her community — not just in New York, but also the community she remembers so well from her life in Venezuela.
“As we rotate among the three different locations, our clients have become familiar with us and even assist us in securing spots for the truck. Their support and loyalty are truly invaluable to us,” she says. “One thing I can guarantee is that every location we visit, the community welcomes us with open arms and a genuine eagerness to sample our food.
Caripito’s fosters its relationship with those loyal clients and the community as a whole using Instagram. Cuartas posts daily about the food, special events, each day’s location, and even uses the platform to offer customers incentives like extra items with their orders. “This is our way of expressing gratitude for their continued support,” Cuartas says.
While running a food truck might at first seem a bit more simple than owning a restaurant in a set location, there are still a lot of factors to consider and plenty of risk involved. That’s why it’s important for Cuartas to have small business insurance with a company like State Farm® that
is available 24/7 and whose agents are actually all small business owners themselves. They’re often well-versed in the multitude of insurance situations that can arise for entrepreneurs, including those in the service industry like Cuartas.
“I discovered that operating a business, particularly in the food truck industry, is more complex than it appears,” Cuartas says. “This experience has taught me the importance of discipline, strength, empowerment, and resilience … It was surprising to realize that I am far more capable than I had ever imagined.”
Having the right people beside her and a strong support system in place has also been a huge asset. Cuartas actually employs an entirely female staff, and it has become something of a trademark of the Caripito’s food truck.
“I am passionate about encouraging [my employees] to pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship and share success stories to inspire and motivate them along their own journeys,” Cuartas says of her staff. “Because I deeply believe in women's empowerment, I am determined to prove that women can successfully run a [business] just as effectively as our male counterparts. Above all, our community views us as strong and hardworking women who have earned their respect through our dedication.”
Cuartas has big plans for growing her business. “My hopes and
dreams for the business include expanding it into a restaurant,” she says, “allowing us to operate longer hours and accommodate a larger clientele in a welcoming environment where they can sit and savor
our food.”
Photography: Chris Bernabeo
By Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
How a Food Truck Owner Built a Strong Community for Her Small Business
Built a Strong Community
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