Today we’d like to introduce you to Nevi Mariadi.
Hi Nevi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I immigrated to the United States in 1999. I lived in Colorado for twenty-two years before I relocated to Duluth. Opening an Indonesian restaurant has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl. Being the firstborn, I was trained at an early age to shop for the freshest ingredients and to prepare meals for the family. When we visited Kelly’s family (my partner) in August 2021, I noticed Duluth’s need for more diversity. The dream of opening an Indonesian restaurant rose! A few months after that, we decided to give it a shot. We started actively searching for a spot to open the restaurant. Within a few months, we found a corner space, previously a print shop. Building a restaurant from scratch would be a massive project, but we were determined to pursue the dream of opening an Indonesian restaurant in Duluth. It took us a year to build the restaurant. We are six months in business now. We serve authentic Indonesian and Asian fusion food (sushi, ramen, rice bowls. My vision is to bring a slice of Bali, the flavor, the spice, and the authenticity to the Northland. I am so grateful and blessed for this opportunity. Bali Asian Cuisine is the first Indonesian restaurant in Minnesota. My dream came true!
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
In the process of building Bali, we ran into many obstacles and challenges.
- The biggest challenge was getting the funds. The contractor’s quote was $600,000 for the build-out, and the restaurant’s equipment and furniture would be an additional of $200,000. My budget was $200,000 for everything. I learned quickly that no bank would fund $600,000 for the build-out of a leased space. I was devastated and grieving the dream that I had to bury. When I met Curt Walzack with the SBDC, he helped me connect with Entrepreneur Fund, Northland Foundation, and 1200 Fund, but I was still short on funding. Fortunately, my landlord, helps finance the rest of my funding. With lots of sweat equity and determination Kelly and I opened the restaurant with $600,000, including the restaurant equipment and furniture.
- The second obstacle was the permitting. Building a restaurant was the first for us. With the rules and regulations, we ran into many days of being unable to work on the build-out because of the permit delay. The day of opening kept on getting pushed back. With finances stretching thin, we need to open as soon as possible, or we will run out of funds before we can open.
- The third obstacle was the ingredients. I want to serve authentic Indonesian food. With the location, it took a lot of work to get the ingredients. Working with Dragon Star Asian Market, I was able to source spices. We also collaborated with local growers to grow our herbs and other veggies.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Bali Asian Cuisine LLC?
We serve authentic Indonesian food with a twist on the Asian Fusion menu. Indonesian food is full of flavor. We work with many spices in our food. We marinate the meat overnight and prepare the food fresh daily.
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
- Grow Duluth- we got our herbs and veggies
- The Old World meat- we got our meats from a local butcher
- Dragon Star Market
Pricing:
- 15-25
Contact Info:
- Website: www.baliasiancuisine.com
- Instagram: bali asian cuisine
