VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Kyra Wood (NCC News Reporter): Since before she was nine.
Latoya Ricks (Owner of Erma’s Bistro and Island): I was cooking for my family. I would cook little pots here and there, but by the time I was nine, making Sunday dinner was a big deal, and I was doing that.
Wood: A trait she got mostly from her grandfather.
Ricks: People really loved his food, and he was respected for that, so he was a celebrated, respected cook in the community. So I was really drawn to that.
Wood: But it was the compassion her grandmother Erma showed that would resonate the most.
Ricks: I knew I wanted to honor her, and I would always tell her that, ‘Grandma, if I ever become somebody, I want you to be a part of that.’
Wood: Behind me is what Latoya refers to as her toddler, Erma’s Island, and her newborn, Erma’s Bistro. Neither would be possible without the business development program held by Salt City Market. Latoya went through this program for almost two years and was able to turn her stand-up into a stand-alone business.
Lauren Davis (Director of Operations at Salt City Market): So it’s our hope that they’re able to pursue dreams, whether it is a second business or growing outside of here, or even if it’s something else for them and their family.
Wood: Erma’s Island, while popular at the Salt City Market location, fed into narratives that she wanted to change about the way people view Jamaican food.
Ricks: You can go sit down to a Jamaican spot. It’s not just a place where you go, you get a food in a styrofoam container, and you just grab it and go. You can sit down and you can enjoy a nice cocktail with your meal.
Wood: Latoya brought this elevated vision into a reality here at the Bistro, and those who helped her get here couldn’t be prouder.
Davis: Just watching her journey of all of her growth and hard work, she put the time in, she put the work in, and then to see the fruits of her labor, we’re just absolutely excited for her.
Wood: Enjoying Jamaican cuisine the classy way, right here in Central Newark. In Syracuse, I’m Kyra Wood, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Latoya Ricks knows a thing or two about taking a leap of faith. She opened her own restaurant, Erma’s Island, as a part of a new business development program at Salt City Market. Now, that risk has paid off for some.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was a lot of uncertainty going around worldwide. Businesses shutting down, restaurants struggling and the future wasn’t clear. Still, the Allyn Family foundation took the bold move to launch the program along with ten aspiring business owners. Five years later, Salt City Market celebrates their 5th birthday.
Latoya Ricks, owner of Erma’s Island and Bistro, was one of the original risk-takers selected for the Start It program at Salt City Market, serves as one of the success stories, opening her own brick-and-mortar restaurant just a few blocks from her original location.
Erma’s Island, Ricks Jamaican-inspired restaurant, is now a staple in the food hall located at 484 South Salina Street in downtown Syracuse.
“It helps small business owner to get in the door. To learn what it takes to run a restaurant,” said Ricks. “Its a lot of hard work its not easy. And then eventually the goal for us to take that experience and then move into our own stand alone.”
Start It was designed to support aspiring food entrepreneurs by offering mentoring, marketing support, resources and a path towards building a sustainable business.
The program allowed Ricks and other participants to test their ideas with less of the financial hardship that comes with it. Ultimately, the program taught participants what it takes to run a long-term business.
“It’s our hope that they’re able to pursue dreams,” said Lauren Davis, Director of Operations at Salt City Market. “Whether that’s a second busiens or growing outside of here or even if its something else for them and their family.”
Originally from Westmoreland, Jamaica, Ricks brings her roots from home with her in managing her businesses. Her grandfather introduced her to her love for cooking at a young age, cooking for large events around their community.
“People really love his food and he was respected for that,” said Ricks. “He was celebrated, respected cook in the community and I was really drawn to that.”
But it was her grandmother’s kindness that she wanted to pay tribute to through her success in America.
“I knew I wanted to honor her and I always tell her ‘Grandma if I ever become somebody, i want you to be a apart of it,'” said Ricks.
And while grateful for the opportunity and exposure the food stall provided, she always knew she wanted more. The 230 quare feet provided to her at the Salt City market location was no match for her vision.
Then came Erma’s Bistro; built on a vision to change the way people experience and enjoy Jamaican food.
“You can go sit down to a Jamaican spot,” Ricks said. “its not just a place where you go and get food in a styrofoam container and you just grab it and go. You can sit down and enjoy a nice cocktail with your meal.”
As Salt City Market celebrates the five-year anniversary of the Start It program, Ricks and her restaurants serve as examples of when opportunity meets hard work and dedication.
“She put the time in, she put the work in,” said Davis. “And then to see the fruits of her labor. We’re just absolutely excited for her.”