Success Story - The Essence on Broad

Maria Prato arrived at the Mitchell College Small Business Center in late 2023 with a bold vision and a rich entrepreneurial background, including a successful jewelry business and recognition as an SBA success story. Her new dream, however, was more ambitious: to create an immersive, beach-themed venue that blended fun, family, and community. With her partner Bennie, she imagined a space filled with volleyball courts, food trucks, bonfires, and events ranging from weddings to axe throwing. But turning this vibrant concept into reality required more than imagination—it demanded strategic planning and expert guidance.

Facing challenges around legal structure, funding, and logistics, Maria leaned on the SBC team for support. Through multiple counseling sessions, a business counselor helped Maria shape her sprawling idea into a phased, seasonal business model. They tackled marketing strategies, liability concerns, and the complexities of hosting diverse events. The business counselor's advice to seek legal counsel for converting Maria’s existing LLC was pivotal, and her financial templates helped Maria build a realistic budget and business narrative. Though lenders declined her applications due to lack of collateral, Maria pressed forward, investing her own savings to secure a downtown Statesville venue in December 2024.

That venue became The Essence on Broad—a dynamic space that hosts weddings by day and community events by night. From comedy shows to line dancing, Maria’s business pulses with creativity and resilience. She credits the Small Business Center, and especially her business counselor, for helping her navigate the entrepreneurial journey with clarity and confidence. Maria continues to use SBC resources and enthusiastically refers others, proving that her story is not just about launching a business—it’s about transforming a dream into a lasting legacy.