Claudia Tomison and her daughter, Aranzazu Tapia, immigrated from Chile to the United States with a dream of building a new life in Lufkin, Texas. While they have embraced their American life, they’ve always held a special place in their hearts for the comforting flavors of their home country, particularly the empanadas that have been a staple of their family traditions.

“Mom has made empanadas for us since we were little kids,” Aranzazu recalled.

“Mom has made empanadas for us since we were little kids,” Aranzazu recalled.
“Mom has made empanadas for us since we were little kids,” Aranzazu recalled.

With the Hispanic community in Lufkin making up over 33% of the population, they were hopeful they could find empanadas nearby. However, the closest option was nearly two hours away in Houston.

In a stroke of inspiration, Claudia decided to sell her homemade empanadas at her bakery, Real Time Breads. The results were immediate — both times she sold them, they sold out within hours. This success sparked an exciting idea: what if they opened their own empanada restaurant?

As they brainstormed a name for their new venture, they reflected on their Chilean roots and the cultural significance of empanadas. In Chile, September 18th marks Independence Day, and empanadas are a beloved dish on this day. Inspired by the holiday’s sense of community and the joy of sharing their favorite food, they named their restaurant Empanadas One 8.

This success sparked an exciting idea: what if they opened their own empanada restaurant?
This success sparked an exciting idea: what if they opened their own empanada restaurant?

With a concept in mind, a name for the restaurant, and a ready customer base, the next step was to secure funding and assistance to bring their vision to life. Claudia knew exactly who to reach out to. Having worked with Communities Unlimited (CU) through her bakery, Claudia was confident they could help her and Aranzazu launch their new business.

The duo partnered with Management Consultant Trent Thomason from CU’s Entrepreneurship Team, who helped them develop a business plan and navigate the complexities of opening a new restaurant. The process quickly became a family affair, with Claudia’s husband, Doug Tomison, offering his expertise in food costs, business expenses, and helping keep everything organized.

“Trent was amazing,” Aranzazu said. “He made sure we got everything we needed figured out. We recommend his help to anyone starting a new business.”

"He really helped us a lot.”

Next, they were introduced to CU’s Lending Team and paired with Senior Economic Development Loan Officer Chris Ranniger. Chris guided them through the lending process, ultimately securing funds from CU’s T.L.L. Temple loan fund. With this financial support, they were able to invest in renovations, equipment, inventory, marketing, and the hiring of three employees to help run the restaurant, contributing to the growth of the local economy.

“Chris and the whole lending department were amazing to us,” Aranzazu shared.

Empanadas One 8 officially opened its doors in November 2024, quickly gaining a loyal following of happy customers.

Empanadas One 8 officially opened its doors in November 2024, quickly gaining a loyal following of happy customers.
CU's CEO, Ines Polonius was one of Empanada One 8's first customers.

“I’m so excited for Claudia and Sue,” Ranniger said. “They’ve put so much effort into getting this empanada business off the ground and into getting this loan done. Both were a pleasure to work with throughout the process. I wish them the best and look forward to seeing them succeed.”

Added Trent, “The word that comes to mind is ‘teamwork.’ This project required a lot of coordination and a strategic blending from both the Empanadas team and the CU team. The Empanadas team arrived at our weekly sessions with their ‘sleeves rolled up’ ready to put in the work necessary to make steady progress. Working with Doug, Claudia, and Sue was a great experience. I’m looking forward to witnessing the growth of Empanadas One 8.”

Aranzazu’s advice to aspiring business owners is simple: ask for help.

“You need someone on your side; it’s impossible to do it alone. You need a village surrounding you.”

"Communities Unlimited was our village, and we hope they can be yours too.”