Expat Spotlight
Esteban & Sebastian – The Brooklane Hotel
This young, enterprising couple is first up on the Expat Spotlight. Esteban and Sebastian embody some of the greatest aspects of what the young expat community here has to offer. They work hard; they go out; and they want to enrich life in San Miguel for others.
The couple met in Miami and moved to NYC where they lived and worked prior to moving to San Miguel de Allende in October of 2016. Their current project, The Brooklane Hotel, is nearing completion and is currently accepting reservations for bookings in October.
We got a sneak peek at the new hotel and had a chance to visit with them at length about their ambitions, and what it takes to make it as a small business owner living in a foreign country.
The hotel is beautiful! It’s nearly finished—what was some of your design inspiration?
S: Well, Esteban was raised with an art deco aesthetic, but it sort-of reflects a Miami, Palm Springs color pallet, which became the identity. It didn’t start off that way however.
E: Yes, and we are very inspired by [Mexican architect] Luis Barragán’s work in the 1950’s and 1960’s, playing with light and colors.
We are really excited to create a community here— make it feel like a home with the amenities of a hotel. We’re also excited to have an artist in residence periodically, to create and feature great art. And we have a great entertaining space for small musical ensembles.
Where are you all from originally, and how did you get here?
S: I grew up in Detroit and then the Great Lakes area, around the woods and nature.
E: My family is from Cuba, but we left when I was six years old. We moved to Miami where I grew up and then later went to New York.
S: My grandparents retired in San Miguel de Allende 33 years ago, and I had visited them here since 1997. Esteban and I took a trip together 6 and a half years ago where we kept this as our home base while backpacking through Mexico.
We went back to New York and just decided we wanted to work for ourselves and move. We saw all of the big places south of here, Veracruz, Mexico City, Oaxaca, etc., but there is something truly special about San Miguel.
E. Was that 6 years ago? Seven? Yeah, we were in New York and saving every penny that we made. That was really hard because you’re living in New York! We didn’t go out, we didn’t party. We were there to work and save money until we were ready to leave.
S: It was 6 and half. (Smiles).
What made you guys want to open a hotel? Did either of you come from entrepreneurial families?
S: My grandmother raised me and was a huge influence on my life, a strong Jewish New Yorker. She always encouraged me to be an entrepreneur. Esteban’s family has owned hotels forever.
E: Going all the way back to Cuba, my family owned hotels there. Until they had to move from Cuba because of Castro. They owned properties in Miami and New York also. You could say that it’s in my blood! I worked for a long, long time in the hospitality industry for major night clubs doing marketing. We were living in Miami and just decided we were done with that life style.
A bit nocturnal isn’t it?
E: Yes! And I no longer wanted to do that. After leaving Miami, I realized that I wanted to follow a dream I always had of owning a small hotel… I know it sounds crazy, but as a young boy, I always dreamt of having my own hotel business.
S: I worked my way up from busser to captain in the food and beverage industry. I love the customer service aspect of my job. I love to make someone’s day!
How did you find this property? Why did you decide to build?
S: My grandparents! My grandfather is an architect, and I knew that one day I really wanted to work on a project with him. He still lives here. Sadly, my grandmother passed away recently and didn’t get to see this. But I did get to share this experience with him. It has been a very difficult process these past two years. You make a lot of mistakes and just have to learn from them and keep on moving. It’s that persistence that makes someone successful. You just have to keep going.
What would you all say to other young, would-be entrepreneur expats? Any words of wisdom?
E: Do your homework! And save, save, save… Save your money! Get a good lawyer. Actually, I’d probably say that is #1. As soon as you get here, find a good lawyer to help you navigate things. And don’t be scared.
S: That is a great question. Do it because you love it and not because everyone else is doing it. You may not make money right away. Dive in and don’t be afraid. There will always be challenges and it’s how you navigate them. That is what defines you. Ideas need to make sense with the market… Be original. An idea can stretch a long way if it is implemented correctly. Take the time to establish a brand and identity different than anything else. And embrace failure. It’ll happen ten times over! You learn so much more from your failures.
That is really inspiring, guys. So true. Even just making the move to get down here costs more than you think it will. Always. How have you all seen San Miguel change since you’ve been here? Who’s coming, and what do they do?
E: People who work on their computers! Young people who are very entrepreneurial.
S: Yes, definitely. Like I said, I have been coming down here for years. When I was younger, it was me with my grandparents at all the cocktail parties. (Laughing). It was a place to retire and sort of lounge around. Now you see all these young people coming here to start businesses away from the expense and red tape you experience in New York or LA or Miami. I think it has even energized some of the retired population into starting new projects of their own.
Globalization and commercialization in bigger cities, particularly in the US, have sort of crushed the creative spirit in those places. Globalization is inevitable, and it will happen here too. But it’s how you navigate it. We have to talk about it and contribute our talents to making this a great place to live.
E: Yes, it’s up to us to create the world we want to live in.
So, guys this has been a really awesome conversation. Thanks so much. Before we take off, what’s next on your travel docket? Where are you going and where do you want to go?
E: I’m headed to France in July for a design workshop. I just finished one this month in Mexico City and am headed to the South of France for another.
S: Israel and Jordan, the motherland if you will, are next up for me. But first, I’ll be going to Nashville. We might also be going to Hawaii.
E: Yeah, I think for us together, Hawaii might be next. But then, there’s always Cuba. (Smiles).
This article was written and published by Martha and Nicole from Luxepatriate
