Northside Shack

What they do

Pamela Olvera has survived childhood trauma, the incarceration of her children’s father, ulcerative colitis, and operating two quick-service restaurants during the pandemic. As a single mom, Pamela found success as a paralegal but wanted to pivot to a culinary career instead. Using funding from the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s South County Career Center for culinary school, she then opened the original Northside Shack location in Point Loma in 2014, specializing in açai bowls and smoothies that attract customers from all over.

Because of Pamela’s lived experiences, she is happy to hire people—even one yearlong employee off the street—if she has a good feeling about their work ethic and capacity to learn.

“One of my superpowers is sizing people up. You’re only as strong as your weakest link,” says Pamela. “My product is only good if the people making them are passionate about turning out a good product.”

About eighty percent of the Northside Shack are women, while over three-quarters identify as people of color. Wages at Northside Shack start at $17 an hour, with a third of the employees earning $25 an hour.

Why we invested

Northside Shack has grown as a popular and beloved spot for açai bowls in San Diego, with overwhelmingly positive reviews across their original Point Loma and newer North Park locations. Pamela is ready to expand even more—relocating the Point Loma Northside Shack across the street and turning their current Point Loma storefront into a pour-over coffee bar, as well as opening a new location in Oceanside.

Pamela was looking for capital to complete the build-outs while maintaining payroll for her two existing locations. Advance Advisory Committee member Vanessa Cadena of Pacific Premier Bank referred Pamela to Mission Driven Finance.