Working Capital Helped Restaurant Owner Continue Friend’s Legacy

August 6, 2024

Karene Brown has always loved to cook. As the seventh of twelve children, she grew up in Jamaica caring for her siblings and learning the art of cooking from her grandmother. Though she never attended culinary school, her passion for food and dedication to honing her skills have been lifelong pursuits.

Today, Karene is the owner and head chef at Caribbean Taste Budz, an authentic Jamaican restaurant in the heart of Queens, NY. The opportunity to take over the restaurant came unexpectedly when her friend, the original founder, passed away in May of 2021. That August, Karene decided to carry on her friend’s dream of creating a community space for the Jamaican population of Queens while sharing the flavors of Jamaica with the broader community.

When Karene first took over the business, she wore many hats—head chef, wait staff, and restaurant manager. Her delicious food and outstanding customer service quickly gained a reputation, allowing her to hire four additional employees to help run the restaurant.

As her business grew, Karene faced unexpected financial challenges. Securing funding as a new business owner and noncitizen of the United States proved difficult. However, Forward Financing provided an opportunity where others did not. With the funds she received, Karene was able to purchase a new industrial refrigerator and additional inventory to meet increasing demand.

Karene has big dreams for Caribbean Taste Budz. She hopes to expand her space to include a juice bar and eventually launch a food truck under the same name. With the help of Forward Financing, she is confident that she can fulfill her dreams and continue to honor her friend’s legacy.

Interested in learning more about how Forward can help your business? Check out our product or submit your application today. Still have questions? Give us a call at 888-244-9099 or email us at info@forwardfinancing.com, our team is available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM EST.