We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexander Esquivel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alexander, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I learned how to be an entrepreneur from watching my parents own their own transmission shop. By the age of six, I already had a hands on experience in the family business. It didn’t really feel like work all the time, since my family was there. I remember being done with a really big job and my dad would say let’s go on vacation. It was normal, no check in with the boss, no seeing if your wife could take the same days. We just had the freedom to get up and go. Once I graduated, I decided to join the Navy. That was a different experience, I got to travel, work a real job and finish college but I got stuck in the system. I felt I became just an employee number. Years after and a couple of kids later. I met this lady that was building hotdog carts and thought “huh, this is a great opportunity for my family to make extra money “. I sat on that cart for five years, just working on Saturday’s at my dad’s transmission shop. When I met my now wife Amanda, things started looking different. She offered her support and helped revamp what I had already started and we grew. One year after we both made the decision to make Mighty Big Dogs N More our full time jobs and never looked back. Amanda will network and book our events and together we get our community fed. It’s really been an honor to experience this with my family and teach them they can create their own things if they’re passionate enough.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets us apart is the interaction between us and our customers. We’ve built relationships and memorized food orders based off of where we are located. What customers like/dislike, what they may be allergic to. Those skills keep our customers coming back and also thinking of us for future events. We are not the typical food cart and we love it that way!!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hands down, an Astros game! Anytime of the week, any city they’re playing in. We represent our Astros wherever we are!! Or, we’ll see where there’s any live music is going on and blend. My wife and I love to hit up hole in the walls wherever we go. We’ve heard some of the best musicians and ate some of the best foods, hanging out with the locals.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife, because she is writing this as I speak. Without her communication skills and ability to network, I would probably still just be at my dad’s transmission shop. To Memorial Trail Ice House, the amount of love we have gotten from this bar and the surrounding community has been an absolute blessing. There’ is no other way to say it but it feels like family when we’re there. Lastly to both of our families, thank you all for the support and encouragement we’ve received. It truly means the world when you’re family is rooting for you.
Instagram: @mighty_big_dogs_n_more
Facebook: @mightybigdogsnmore
Other: Email: mdfoodcatering@gmail.com