Will Jones
For years, Susana Cabrera worked as a street vendor, selling hot dogs to make ends meet and provide for her family. Today, she is building a different kind of future. As an Everytable franchise owner, she has moved from hourly employee to businesswoman through the company’s Social Equity Franchise (SEF) program, gaining a path to ownership without the upfront capital traditionally required to open a franchise.
That transformation began at Everytable’s first location on Hoover and 23rd Street, where Susana joined the company as an employee after years of street vending. Franchise ownership had never seemed realistic to her until the Social Equity Franchise (SEF) program gave her a reason to apply. With 100% financing and a salary guarantee during the transition, the opportunity allowed her to turn the experience she had built as a worker into ownership without taking on the financial burden traditionally associated with opening a franchise.
Today, that ownership has a meaning that extends beyond the business itself. Her store gives neighbors access to scratch-cooked meals starting at $5, including people whose long and demanding workdays leave little time to prepare nutritious food at home.
Take us back to the start of your journey with Everytable. What was your perspective when you first started as an employee, and at what moment did you realize that becoming a store owner through Everytable University was a real possibility for you?
I started with Everytable at our very first location on Hoover and 23rd Street. Moving from street vending hot dogs to selling nutritious meals, I was just happy to be part of such a meaningful new concept. I never imagined franchise ownership was possible for me until the program was officially announced; despite my initial disbelief, I decided to take a chance and apply.
Traditional franchise ownership usually requires significant capital and personal financial risk. How did having 100% financing and a salary guarantee during the transition change your mindset about step-up opportunities and entrepreneurship?
The 100% financing and salary guarantee were incredible benefits. Knowing that all I needed to bring was my willingness and hard work made me jump at the chance. This program served as a vital bridge that closed the financial gap, turning my hands-on operational experience into a valuable asset and making my dream of business ownership possible. There are so many hard workers who don’t need handouts, just real opportunities, and Everytable’s Social Equity Franchise program provided exactly that.
Moving from hourly work to owning and operating a business is a major life shift. How has this transition transformed your personal life, your sense of financial security, and the future you’re building for your family?
Back in my street vending days, I always dreamed of owning a business that I could be proud of, and that truly served my community. Now, as a franchise owner, my kids are incredibly proud of me, even if they don’t fully understand the business details yet; they just know their mom is building something big. To me, this transition means owning my future. As a street vendor, I worked purely to pay the immediate bills, but as a franchise owner, I am driven by the responsibility of securing my family’s long-term financial future.
Your store operates in an area that traditional grocery stores and healthy dining chains have historically overlooked. What was the community’s initial reaction when you opened, and what does it mean to offer fresh, scratch-cooked meals starting at $5 right in the neighborhood?
People are in awe of our prices. They often comment that we are more affordable than the burger place—you know, the one with the golden arc. Our food is convenient, affordable, and tastes great. Some people come to the store because their doctor suggested they eat better. They felt lost, and they did not know what to eat aside from the popular unhealthy fast food places around us. They are happy that we are within walking distance of their homes.
A grant can provide short-term food relief, but your store acts as a permanent fixture in the neighborhood. How do you see your role as a functioning, long-term business differing from traditional short-term food assistance programs?
A grant or a box of food offers relief for today—a safety net. It does not build a self-sustaining ecosystem for tomorrow. As funding runs out, the distribution ends. That is where the difference lies. My store isn’t a temporary program; we are a permanent fixture here in the neighborhood. We bring nutritious, affordable meals, making them a daily reality. We create local jobs, keep dollars circulating right here in our community, and build a welcoming space where people can choose good food for their families. Relief programs address a lack of resources, but a sustainable local business brings long-term availability and provides community dignity. Our community does not need another handout; they need opportunities.
Is there a specific customer, regular, or moment on the store floor that stands out to you as a clear picture of why this model matters?
When I think about why this model matters, I think about this lovely lady. She is 62 years old and works as an AT&T technician. She spends long, demanding hours on her feet doing heavy physical work. Everytable has truly become her lifeline. At 62, after a long shift, the last thing she should have to worry about is coming home, standing over the stove, and stressing over cooking a nutritious meal from scratch. Instead, she relies on us for her day-to-day food. She picks up her meals so that she can focus on her job. Our food allows her to prioritize her rest without skipping a meal. We aren’t just selling prepared food; we are giving a hard-working woman in our community her time and her health so she can enjoy her life.
Beyond providing healthy food, your store represents economic mobility led by someone from within the community. How do you view your role as a leader, and what message do you hope your trajectory sends to others in the neighborhood?
I view my role as a leader, not just a business owner. I am living proof of what happens when you invest in people. Not only that, but I know the barriers firsthand. I have it fresh in my memory. As a street vendor without resources, I know what it is like to have the sun on my back, the sweat on my face, the ache in my feet, and the hope in my heart that I would make ends meet. Standing here today running my stores, my leadership is rooted in empathy, respect, and deep accountability to the people who walk through our doors every day. The message is simple: You don’t have to leave the neighborhood to rise, and you don’t need a fortune to build ownership. For too long, the narrative has been that success means leaving the neighborhood behind or that business ownership is for those with deep pockets. My story brings hope that new opportunities are becoming available.
Now that your location is established and thriving, what are your goals for the future of your store, and what do you hope to see as the SEF program continues to expand?
Now that my stores are established, my primary goal is to maximize our sales per square foot. In retail, every single square foot represents an opportunity to serve more people, optimize operations, and drive profitability.
As the Social Equity Franchise Program continues to expand, I would love the message of hope to reach marginalized communities, and it becomes a beacon of hope that proves ownership is within reach, regardless of your personal capital. Even writing sounds like a fantasy; I know it is not because it is my personal experience.
Find Susana Cabrera on Instagram.