>>> IN THE CITY BELOVED FOR ITS DINING SCENE, CHICAGO RESTAURANT ARE AT THE HEARTBEAT OF COMMUNITIES, DEFINING NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURES THROUGHOUT CUISINE.

THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS ALSO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TO SUCCEED IN.

THAT'S WHY A NONPROFIT BEGAN ITS MISSION TO HELP ON RESTAURANT ENTREPRENEURS KEEP THOSE COMING.

ERICA HAS THE DISH.

>> Reporter: LIKE MOST FRIDAY AFTERNOONS, IT'S BUSY IN THE KITCHEN AT RUBYS TACOS ON 18th STREET.

IT IS 100 PERCENT FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED THEY REPRESENT THE NECESSARY PIECES OF A SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT.

BUT IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT RUBYS TACOS WERE ONLY AVAILABLE ONCE A WEEK AT MAXWELL STREET STAND.

SINCE THEN, THE RAMIRES FAMILY WHO OWNS RUBYS HAS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED INTO THIS BRICK-AND-MORTAR LOCATION FOR THAT THANKS IN LARGE PART TO -- WHO SHARES THE SPACE WITH RUBYS FOR NOW.

>> THEY WERE STREET VENDORS.

THEY STARTED SELLING TAMALES OUT OF A COOLER THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE MET THEM AND THEY HAD A VERY IMPRESSIVE TO STENT.

>> IT FORCED THEM INTO AN APARTMENT SELLING OUT OF THEIR APARTMENT.

WE PUT THEM IN A PHYSICAL SPACE THAT SUPPORTED THEIR REVENUE STREAM AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

>> Reporter: THIS KITCHEN WAS STARTED BY RESTAURANT INDUSTRY VETERAN JACKSON FLOREZ AND HER FRIEND BRIAN SOTO WHEN FLOREZ LOST HER JOB EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> I HAD A SWEET GIG AS A RESTAURANT OPERATOR AND BRIAN OWNS AND OPERATES AN ACCOUNTING FIRM.

>> I WAS A CPA RUNNING AN ACCOUNTING FIRM.

I HAD A LOT OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE CLIENTS SO DURING THE PANDEMIC I SAW THEM STRUGGLING WHEN THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN THEIR DOORS PICKS >> Reporter: THEY SELF-FUNDED A MICROGRAM PROGRAM TO HELP STRUGGLING SPOTS.

SOON OUTSIDE VENDORS BEGIN CONTRIBUTING TOO.

THAT FUNDING HAS ALLOWED THEM TO DISTRIBUTE OVER $80,000 IN MICRO GRANT TO DATE AS WELL AS OFFER FREE BUSINESS EDUCATION AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO INSPIRING AND CURRENT RESTAURANT WHISPER .

>> YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO OPEN RESTAURANTS WITH NO EXPERIENCE, LITTLE CAPITAL AND AN IDEA AND WE HELP ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH OR NAVIGATE THE INS AND OUTS OF ZONING PERMITS AND LICENSES.

WE HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL LANDSCAPE IS BESIDES ACCESS TO CAPITAL IS EXCESS INFORMATION.

WHAT DOES SALES-TAX MEAN?

WHAT TAXES ARM I EXPOSED TO?

WHAT PERMITS AND LICENSES MI EXPOSED TO?

HOW DO I COST OUT MY MENU?

HOW DO I HAVE INVENTORY CONTROLS?

HOW DO I WORK QUICKBOOKS?

>> THE KITCHEN TEAM SO THEY HELP ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH ALL PHASES OF THEIR BUSINESS IN ORDER TO BUILD STROBER COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE COMING FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR HELP SOMETIMES.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO EVEN ASK FOR HELP SO PART OF THOSE PIECES ARE BREAKING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS SO THAT WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES, IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT.

A LOT OF TIMES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES , WHAT THEY BRING TO THOSE COMMUNITIES IS NOT JUST SKILLS, FOOD, THEIR CRAFT , BUT IT IS ALSO JOBS AND THEY ARE ECONOMIC ENGINES IN ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: FLOORS AND SOTO SAY THEY ONLY NEED TO LOOK TO THEIR ROOMMATES, RUBY, TO SEE THAT THERE APPROACH WORKS.

RUBYS HAS BEEN OUR BEST CASE.

IT SHOWS THAT SOMEONE CAN COME HERE TO AMERICA, START SOME LITTLE TO STAND AND GROW IT INTO A FULL-FLEDGED BUSINESS, HIRING 10+ PEOPLE AND HAVING THEIR FAMILY ON A SALARY.

THAT IS TRUE SUCCESS.

>> Reporter: A DREAM.

FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINA VOICES,