Bergenfield Business Scores Big at Super Bowl

Most people spent Super Bowl Sunday enjoying the game plus their favorite food and beverages with family and friends. By kickoff, it would have been hard to blame Galo Grijalva, the owner of Bergenfield’s Empanada Mania on S. Washington Avenue, if he decided to take a nap instead. Grijalva, joined by “Team Mania” members Emma Scher, Johnny Vargas, Megan Frank and Sital Mistry, served thousands of mini tacos to hordes of appreciative football fans at the NFL’s Official VIP Tailgate Party held at the Meadowlands Racetrack near MetLife Stadium before the start of the big game.

As soon as it was announced that the Super Bowl was taking place in New Jersey, Grijalva knew Empanada Mania had to be a part of it. “I made sure everyone I met knew that also,” he confided.  Contacts he made through his involvement as a board member of the Bergenfield Special Improvement District (BSID) advised him to register with the NY/NJ Super Bowl Organizing Committee back in April of 2013.  The Committee, in conjunction with the NFL’s Business Connect Program, was accepting applications for local minority and women owned businesses that wanted the opportunity to be involved with Super Bowl week events.

After applying, Empanada Mania was invited to attend a tasting in September. Shortly after the tasting, Grijalva received an invitation to bid on items selected at the event.  After submitting a bid, he received official word that Empanada Mania was one of only 55 restaurants and caterers from the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area selected to cater the NFL's Official VIP Tailgate Party.

The event took place from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday with thousands of the NFL's VIP guests enjoying food and live entertainment representing both New Jersey and New York presented on three different levels at the racetrack facility.  From 2:00 p.m. till about 5:30 p.m. it was non-stop, Grijalva recalled. “As soon as we put plates down they were taken by guests.  Apparently, we served several celebrities and I didn't even realize it as our focus was on keeping plates coming.”

“We couldn't fry on site so we served 3,000 assorted mini tacos using our award-winning fillings,” Grijalva pointed out. “We went with two of our best; braised pork with pickled red onion, and southwest braised chicken and cheese, served with a fresh salsa.”

Based on the response from people who tried Empanada Mania’s food, Bergenfield can expect more hungry visitors. “We were honored just to be a part of this historic event, but to have several guests say we served the best food of the day or that they had to come and try what we had because they heard from other guests it was the best was crazy,” Grijalva added. “It was at that point that it hit me just what a big deal it was to be a part of the event.  It’s an amazing feeling to have been able to accomplish what we have been able to, with a relatively new food concept.  There was never a doubt it would be successful but I never imagined it would happen to this extent much less as quickly as it has.”  

As a BSID board member and a Bergenfield business owner with family roots in Bergen County, Grijalva was proud to represent the local community and believes Empanada Mania’s participation in a prestigious event like the Super Bowl will help put Bergenfield in the spotlight.

“The success Galo and Empanada Mania have achieved is proof of the potential that exists for others to succeed in Bergenfield,” noted Walter Johnson, BSID President and the owner of Perfect Cut Carpets. “With the right array of businesses providing exemplary products and services, there is no doubt Bergenfield can become the local alternative to crowded, over-priced malls.  The convenience is ideal and the demographics within a 3 mile radius creates huge opportunities for entrepreneurs that know how to take advantage of them.”   

Asked to look ahead, Grijalva hopes to continue to grow his business in new ways. He expects to add the mini tacos served at the Super Bowl to Empanada Mania’s catering menu and this summer will be busy with festivals, farmer’s markets and other events.

“There are several directions we can go, but our priority is to firmly establish ourselves as the leading empanada brand and maximize opportunities for our current business model,” he concluded. “We still have a ways to go but taking part in the Super Bowl will certainly open doors for us. We look forward to the opportunities that will present themselves, particularly with wholesale, concession opportunities and other events.”

For a Bergenfield Business Directory, or to find out more about the programs and services provided by the Bergenfield Special Improvement District, visit GoBergenfield.com or follow the district at Facebook.com/GoBergenfield.