“RBAC provides security for me, and I can grow from a three restaurant portfolio to five or 10 over the next 10, 15, or 20 years. They’re right in my backyard, and they know the market really well. They’re so local that they’ve come to our restaurants.”

We knew that TJ Ajmeri was onto something when he came to us with the dream of opening a Pollo Campero franchise in Trenton. He had done his research and knew that there was a demographic that needed to be served, and he believed that he could do that by bringing Guatemalan-inspired chicken to the area. 

We jumped at the chance to be in his corner for this venture, and now having tasted the food and seen his success, we know it was the right decision. 

TJ’s mission: Fund the opening of a Pollo Campero franchise in Trenton, NJ

TJ Ajmeri decided to go into the chicken business after working in hospitality for a number of years, knowing it would be a risky endeavor. He, along with his partners, wanted to open a Pollo Campero franchise, a Guatemalan fast-casual restaurant that serves hand-breaded fried chicken, grilled chicken, and a variety of sides and drinks. 

It’s more niche than other mainstream fast food style restaurants, but TJ says, “we did our due diligence, and we knew the market was ripe in Trenton, NJ.” Despite the need and a market ready for something different, things didn’t go as smoothly as he had hoped when he started looking for funding.

The roadblocks: An uncertain venture 

TJ was sure that there was a market for Pollo Campero, but as a new entrepreneur, he didn’t have much capital, and he knew this would likely take the option of traditional banking out of the mix. 

His suspicion was confirmed when the banks he approached turned him down because he didn’t meet their qualification criteria for a traditional loan. New franchise locations, especially restaurants, are an uncertain venture, but he was onto something. He knew it. Even so, he didn’t know where to turn for funding.

That’s when a lender referred him to RBAC and everything changed.

The route: RBAC provided funds and flexibility

Walking into the RBAC offices, TJ wasn’t sure what to expect, but he was greeted with warmth and enthusiasm. William Pazmino, RBAC’s CEO, had heard of Pollo Campero and was willing to take a deeper look into TJ and his partners’ financials.

“William said, ‘look I can’t lend you the full value of your build out, but let me see what I can do,’” TJ recalls. “He actually ended up getting us more than half the money that we needed. And that was a lifesaver because between myself and my other two partners, we had a little bit of cash.”

Opening the doors to that first restaurant turned out to be a great decision, and TJ is quick to emphasize that “RBAC knowing the market and taking a chance on us was instrumental back then.”

The destination: New locations with the same support system

Over a decade after opening the first Pollo Campero location, the time came to expand. TJ approached his bank to discuss a loan for two new locations. When the bank essentially said they could only get the funding for one. TJ went into problem-solving mode. He wanted to move forward with both projects, so he started thinking of other options, and “of course, RBAC came to mind.”

He called us to get the process for his second loan started, and we wrapped the loan in less than four weeks. “It was just easy,” TJ shares.

“They’re a big part of why I’m a restaurateur with three restaurants now,” He says. “I can grow with this model in perpetuity.”

The RBAC experience: Easy and accessible

TJ’s experience sums up what we hope everyone feels when they walk out of our office — “It was easy to work with RBAC again,” he says, “because they knew the brand, they’re easily accessible, and they understand the ‘plight’ of the entrepreneur.”

This is what we do. We love helping business owners make their dreams come true when traditional financing can’t offer the support they need. Whether you’re a referral partner with a client or a small business owner with a dream, if you’re ready to make it happen, we’re here to help.