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La Catrina Patio Fiesta – Outdoor Dining Experience

Create a vibrant outdoor patio with seating, lighting, and décor to expand dining and community gatherings.
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lacatrinamuskegon.com
About this idea
La Catrina is a locally owned Mexican restaurant in North Muskegon focused on culture, food, and community. We are looking to transform our outdoor space into a functional patio dining area for the summer season. This project will add comfortable outdoor seating, shade, and lighting to create a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for guests. The patio will allow us to expand our seating capacity during peak months and offer a unique outdoor dining experience that is currently limited among nearby restaurants. Within a 5-mile radius, most establishments do not offer dedicated outdoor seating, giving La Catrina a competitive advantage during Michigan’s warmer months. Economically, this expansion will allow us to increase sales and support job growth by adding 2–3 additional serving positions to accommodate the increased demand. The patio will not only enhance the guest experience but also strengthen our ability to grow as a small local business while contributing to the local economy.
Impact
This project will have a direct economic and community impact on both our business and the surrounding area. By adding outdoor patio seating, La Catrina will increase its service capacity during peak summer months, leading to higher sales and improved sustainability for a locally owned small business. The additional seating will also allow us to create 2–3 new serving positions to support the increased demand. The project will also allow us to activate an area of our property that is currently unused. Due to township regulations, this portion of the lot cannot be converted into parking or used for other revenue-generating purposes. Transforming it into an outdoor patio allows us to turn an otherwise unusable space into a productive and welcoming environment for guests. Within a 5-mile radius, many restaurants do not offer dedicated outdoor dining, giving La Catrina a competitive advantage during Michigan’s warmer months. The patio will attract both local residents and visitors looking for an enjoyable summer dining experience. Overall, the project supports job creation, strengthens a local small business, and contributes to a more vibrant dining scene in North Muskegon.
What I'll do with $5,000
The $5,000 grant will be used to purchase outdoor dining tables and chairs to furnish our new patio space. This investment will allow us to add seating for approximately 50 additional guests during the summer season. The funds will primarily cover durable, weather-resistant outdoor tables and chairs designed for commercial restaurant use. These furnishings will transform an currently unused outdoor area into a functional dining space that can immediately generate additional revenue for the business.
Quick Bio
Ana Olson is a local entrepreneur and restaurateur in Muskegon, Michigan. She is the owner of La Catrina and Los Amigos Tequila Bar & Grill, two restaurants known for celebrating Mexican culture throu
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