Meet Claire Risoli | Mom, Entrepreneur, Restauranteur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claire Risoli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claire, how do you think about risk?
My motto is “Start before you are ready, just START!” It is never the perfect time to take a risk and I am not one to be “getting ready to get ready.” You have to just start with where you are, with what you’ve got. None of us knew what we were doing when we decided to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. The learning is in the doing and I believe that you just have to bet on yourself: leap and discover your wings on the way down. I took a huge risk by opening up Pocha LA Modern Mexicana Kitchen in Highland Park with no prior kitchen, culinary, or restaurant management experience. I was not a chef, a cook, and not even a foodie, I was just an entrepreneur and a mom with a vision. Pocha LA started as an idea on my vision board in January 2019. By February 2020, I was taking a huge leap of faith (risk in disguise) by signing the lease to my very first restaurant location in Highland Park, Los Angeles. I had an idea and I had a burning desire to bring it to life and see it through. I was scared. I was nervous. I wasn’t qualified and I KNEW it was such a risky business decision. I was aware of the restaurant failure rate and the general failure rate of most new businesses. It didn’t look good… I KNEW the odds were against me… And, I had no idea that a global pandemic was to follow. We are coming up on our 4th anniversary and I believe that we have survived (thrived) due to our ability to pivot, our resilience, our tenacity, our whatever it takes attitude, and our ability to manage risk daily. When I take risks in my life and my career, it always presents opportunities to grow, stretch, and expand my comfort zone. The magic is in the mess and the exciting stuff happens outside the comfort zone. Taking risks is the only way to get there. You gotta JUMP.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Pocha LA a modern Mexicana Restaurant and Bar offers a family-dining experience in Highland Park, Los Angeles.

Pocha is our culture, Angelina Pride is our heritage. We are rooted in tradition while showcasing the evolution of new food trends. Pocha LA merges Mexican and American cultures and we aren’t afraid to color outside the lines by introducing non-traditional ingredients or flavors to our soulful dishes.

At Pocha, our philosophy is fearless: overcoming obstacles and conquering challenges. Hispanic and woman-owned, we stand for empowerment and growth, inclusion, and UNITY. This is the place for rule-breakers, risk-takers, and those on a mission to level up and willing to go for it and play full out.

Our mamas, our story, our community, and our heritage taught us never to give up and stay true to who we are, and that’s exactly what we want to portray in every corner of Pocha LA, serving delicious, authentic staples. Authentic because it represents us and our culture to the very core; delicious because we use the freshest local ingredients and prepare every dish con puro amor.

Pocha LA was a pandemic baby. We signed our lease in February 2020. The world shut down in March 2020. And we opened our doors to take-out and delivery service only in April 2020.

I am an entrepreneur. I have built another successful business with a company called Arbonne International for the last 13 years and continue to grow my global network with the wonderful health, wellness, and beauty company. I decided to diversify my financial portfolio, challenge myself, and build a brand from the ground up and that was Pocha LA Modern Mexicana Bar and Restaurant. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Some days the anxiety is crippling. The highs are really high and the lows are REALLY LOW. I am most proud of leading us from surviving to thriving. I am proud of my tenacity, resilience, work ethic, stick-with-it-ness, my ability to pivot, lean in and be nimble.

Some of my proudest moments include catering the Imagen Awards, ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ with the Jefa Owned; Juntos Crecemos initiative backed by Pepsi (along with the 7-story digital billboard of Pocha in Times Square Square), being a featured Chef at the Taste of the NFL in 2022, growing from not knowing how to run a commercial kitchen to learning how to be a prep cook, line cook, dishwasher, expeditor, server, bus-girl, host, accountant, social media maven and plumber. When I say we will do WHATEVER IT TAKES, we mean it. Pocha LA is where it is today as a result of our team’s dedication, commitment to excellence, determination, and love that is poured into everything that we do.

I have learned that we are capable of so much more than we realize. I have learned what 100% ALL IN looks like and feels like. I have learned that I will not allow myself to quit on a bad day. I have learned to navigate the choppiest of waters… and THATS what makes a GREAT SAILOR. I’ve learned that I CAN do hard things and that my son is watching me… I can tell him that he can do anything that he puts his mind to… or I can SHOW him what that looks like. I want to build a company that will create growth opportunities for people. I want it to be a place where people can flourish and can grow their leadership and professional skills. I want to leave a legacy and do this not only for my family but for my fellow Latinas and our communities. I want to blaze the trail and bring people with me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my best friend to my hometown in the South Bay, all over the Hollywood Riviera and go for a lovely bike ride on the beaches from Manhattan Beach, to Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach to Torrance (where I am from). I would take her along the coast to Palos Verdes and we would have a lovely brunch at The Terrenea and enjoy the beautiful views and perfect sunshine.

I would love to sqeeze in a boat ride from Long Beach to Catalina for the day.

Some of the places I would like her to experience include:
Perch in DTLA for a mocktail (I don’t drink) and some appetizers, to experience the beautiful downtown views at sunset.
Gjelina in Venice on Abbot Kinney. One of my favorite restaurants of all time.
The Grove, because why not? I would love for her to experience Alma Mexican Restaurant.
We would walk around Old Pasadena and shop.

I would take her to Laguna Beach, Dana Point and San Diego/Coronado and enjoy the restaurants and shops and boutiques. I am a beach girl at heart. I grew up at the beach and there is something about the ocean air that centers me. It’s my happy place.

And then, of course, we would dine at Pocha LA for Mariachi Brunch Sunday with Mariahci Magnolia on the Pocha Patio.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shoutout to the people who have raised me, mentored me, helped me, supported me, run alongside me, and fanned my flames.

To my mom, one of the most courageous, astute, and hard-working people I have ever known. She has a sick work ethic, isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, and took the risk of coming to this country from Mexico and building a life she is proud of. I am so grateful for the lessons she has taught me and for always believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.

A shoutout to Lily Rocha, CEO of the Latino Restaurant Association. If you trace back all the great things that have happened with Pocha LA far enough, you will find Lily Rocha. She is my angel and I am so grateful for her belief in what we are building. She has given me so many opportunities that I never felt ready for but I jumped and did it anyways. I owe so much of Pocha’s success to this amazing woman. Thank you just isn’t enough.

Helen Hernandez, thank you for fanning my flames for sending the elevator down, and for the countless acts of generosity and kindness. Your faith in me is EVERYTHING to me. I am not sure you realize the impact that you have had on me and my life and I am forever grateful I will never forget the things you have done for me and for the opportunities you have given me to shine.

Linda Blum Huntington, Rick DeMarco, Philip Gay… my business mentors. They have guided me, helped me, supported me, at times have carried me, and have never given up on me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without these people.

My Pocha LA Team. Pocha IS because WE are. Our front-of-house and back-of-house teams are the heart of Pocha. They are everything. Success doesn’t happen alone. We are a rising tide and Pocha will lift all boats.

Website: www.PochaLA.com

Instagram: @pocha_losangeles and @claire_risoli

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/claire-risoli-083bb6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claire.risoli. AND https://www.facebook.com/pochalosangeles/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pocha-la-los-angeles-2