The Chronicles Of Grant County
Some of the sweet treats available at La Bonita Bakery. (The photograph was provided courtesy of La Bonita Bakery.)
The U S Congress approved legislation that led to the creation of several programs to help businesses continue their operations affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Program was one of those programs designed to stabilize and enhance the economy. This program is part of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Businesses are able to utilize RRF Program grants for certain types of expenses, including ones for beverage and food products, debt service, maintenance, mortgage loans, payroll, rent, supplies, utilities, and other operating costs. Funds can be spent up to March 11, 2023.
La Bonita Bakery received $59,331 in grant funding through the RRF Program.
The bakery is located at 3110 North Silver Street, across the street from Silver High School in Silver City. Most of the bakery's customers are students and teachers from the high school as well as parents and grandparents who drop off students in the mornings.
In an interview with Mary Alice Murphy, Editor of The Grant County Beat, Sandra Calderón of La Bonita Bakery detailed how the RRF Program grant will help her business as it recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Mrs. Calderón explained that she started the business by baking and selling a variety of types of Mexican bread. She couldn't make enough income from selling just bread products, so she started selling additional food items.
One of the additions was to make and sell tacos. Thus began Taco Tuesdays, joined now with Taco Thursdays because of demand. On Fridays in the summer, she also serves what her father called "sopapillas," but in reality are like Navajo Fry Bread. In the winter, she makes green chile stew, red chile stew, and albondigas. She regularly makes tamales, nearly always spicy ones.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and its associated lockdowns had tremendous impact on the bakery. Mrs. Calderón said she had to close the business for several months during the pandemic.
Some of the RRF Program funds have been used for eligible expenses at the business such as wages and supplies: "I keep every separate receipt for everything I spend money on, just in case. I have kept all my records in case they do audits, and I'm sure they will do audits."
While a portion of the monies have been spent, Mrs. Calderón explained that she has put most of the RRF Program funds into savings. Those dollars are anticipated to be helpful as the next couple years play out. She expressed concerns about the economy. "I just want to maintain," Mrs. Calderón stated. "I'm afraid to lose everything."
In addition to the RRF Program funding, La Bonita Bakery also received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the SBA. The loan was in the amount of $2,129. It was approved on March 20, 2021.
PPP funds used for specific business purposes allow the SBA to convert the loan into a grant for the participating business. Among the uses allowed for monies secured through the PPP are such costs as payroll, mortgage interest, rental payments, and utility expenses. If the SBA does not approve forgiveness of some or all of the loan, then that portion not forgiven must be repaid in full plus interest.
La Bonita Bakery used its PPP loan to help reopen and pay wages and supplies. Mrs. Calderón has not heard back whether the loan was forgiven and is concerned that she may have to pay back the loan. Just in case, she explained that "I am saving enough money in personal savings. In case I don't get the PPP loan forgiven, I'll pay it back with savings."
La Bonita Bakery is an important part of her life and the lives of her family. In addition to her, both her son and her husband work at La Bonita Bakery. Her husband also has a remote job that he does most days from the office at the bakery.
"I've been blessed from the very beginning of my business," said Mrs. Calderón. "Two of my nieces will be going back to university in the fall, but they are helping me out this summer. I'll miss them when they go back to school."
Although she is not originally from Silver City, she noted that her husband is from the town. She came to Silver City for what she thought would be a couple of years, but "I love it here. Silver City people are wonderful."
Her sisters have similar stores in Las Cruces, but she has found that the products that sell well in Las Cruces don't sell as well in Silver City and vice versa.
She explained that the food from La Bonita Bakery has been well received in Grant County. As an example, she said she had attended a quinceañera earlier this month. She knew La Bonita Bakery had received a big order, but she didn't know who it was for and wasn't at the store when it was picked up, so she was pleased to see La Bonita Bakery's food at the event.
One area of growth she is looking at is to cater events. She has just begun doing this type of activity and enjoys it. "If they ask me, I'll do anything," noted Mrs. Calderón.
She noted that La Bonita Bakery is very much part of the community. The Calderón family is active in community service, with the bakery sponsoring some school events.
Mrs. Calderón explained that she was happy to answer any questions about the RRF Program because "the community likes input in what we are spending grant money on. It's public money."
La Bonita Bakery opens at 7 AM Monday through Friday. You can visit their website for additional details at https://www.la-bonita-bakery.com/ as well as their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/labonitabakery101/.
One of the dishes available at La Bonita Bakery—Tacos ready to put in all the salad and enjoy. (The photograph was provided courtesy of La Bonita Bakery, March 2, 2020.)
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© 2021 Richard McDonough