María balances long workdays with raising two young children, who are already learning the value of hard work alongside her.

When I first approached María, she was understandably cautious. Like many vendors, she had work to do and customers to serve. But after a few minutes, she welcomed me into the conversation.

María has worked with Dylan's Crepes for about a year, making fresh crepes every day from late afternoon until around 11 p.m. Although she doesn't have a consistent schedule, she's there whenever the business needs her, making the 20-minute commute each day.

Her biggest motivation is simple: her children.

While we talked, her 10-year-old son, who was about to start fifth grade, helped around the stand. María also has a 7-year-old daughter, and together the two children are growing up around the family business, watching firsthand what it takes to earn a living.

Business can be unpredictable. On slower days, María may serve only 15 to 20 customers, while weekends often bring around 30 people to the stand. The afternoons are usually the busiest.

For María, vending is about more than making crepes. It's an opportunity to support her family while doing something she enjoys—serving people and building relationships with the community, one customer at a time.

Quick Facts

Name: María

Business: Dylan's Crepes

Role: Employee

Specialty: Fresh Crepes

Time Here: 1 Year

Hours: Daily, approximately 4 PM–11 PM

Most Popular Item: Crepes

Biggest Motivation: Her Children

Customer Traffic: 15–30 Customers Per Day

By Austin Iluore

A Family Business in the Making