Daily Inspiration: Meet Atalaya Hayes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Atalaya Hayes

Hi Atalaya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I went vegan a couple of years ago, and noticed there were not a lot of vegan options locally. I am always cooking big dinners for friends and family for free, so I knew I would love having a food business. I started with a retired FedEx truck that I purchased on Facebook marketplace. My son (14yrs) and I got on YouTube, studied and built the truck up in our driveway in Detroit. After a couple of months, we completed everything and passed our inspections. We spent a lot of time in Corktown and loved the area so we set up there. I knew that even if no one showed up, after I bought all that food for opening day, I’d just invite my friends and family to come eat and have a good time. But instead we are always selling out. I’m extremely grateful. We are a year in business. I am learning as I go and consistently growing.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I almost quit while building the truck. I was exhausted and I ran out of money when I was 99% complete . I sold my car, pawned some items, and got help from family to complete it. I had to drive the food truck around as a daily driver to run regular errands before I opened because I needed more equipment to get started. I had already painted the truck and put my logo on it. When I would stop to get gas or go to a store, people around the city would stop me and ask me if this is my business and tell me they were so proud of me. These were complete strangers just happy for me. It has been a bumpy road. I had a lot to learn about buying quality equipment over cheap equipment. I had to learn food cost. Sometimes I would sell out and still have no profit and I realized it’s due to lack of proper organization. I just learned to tackle one thing at a time and stay consistent. I learned to not be afraid to ask for guidance. People are willing to help if you simply ask.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a vegan chef and owner of MotorCity Vegan. My menu would be described as a transitional menu. It features items that are easy to enjoy by people who may still eat meat also while providing flavorful options for vegans who want to enjoy comfort food guilt free. I have American and Mexican food options. A customer favorite is my vegan New York style Chop Cheese Sandwich . I call it the Bodega Chop Cheese which comes with waffle fries. Another favorite are the nachos! Customers have called this the best vegan food they have had. I cook because I love to. It’s always a plus when people love the food! I am extremely grateful.

What does success mean to you?
Success is doing what you love, while having everything you need. Success is being able to live in the moment without allowing your past to distract you from your present. Success is not allowing thoughts of your future make you so anxious that you miss current opportunities. Success is about knowing that the steps you are currently making are best for you and your future. I believe success isn’t somewhere you arrive, but it’s the daily practice of healthy habits that you know are aligning you for the best version of yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Motorcityvegan.com
• Instagram: Motorcityvegancompany

Image Credits
Jasmine Graham