Peruvian Brothers was born as a business idea at a family reunion. Now it has grown from food trucks to an entire catering operation and expanded to several locations, including a brick-and-mortar in La Cosecha, a Latin Market in Northeast Washington, D.C.
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Brothers Giuseppe and Mario Lanzone immigrated to the United States from Peru over two decades ago. Giuseppe says Peru's turbulent economy and the ongoing corruption led his family to move when he was 15-years-old.
When the brothers graduated high school, they went their separate ways. Giuseppe went on to college and then to represent the United States in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. After being apart from his family for several years, Giuseppe says he longed to be home with them. When the brothers finally reunited, they decided to start a business that showcased their native cuisine.
Giuseppe says the business idea was born at a family reunion where his mother suggested they start a food truck. In 2013, they opened their first food truck dedicated to serving Peruvian food inspired by Andean, Spanish, African, and Asian flavors.
Several food trucks later, the brothers decided to take a leap of faith and open their first brick-and-mortar restaurant. With help from the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), the brothers secured a small business loan, funded by the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, which allowed them to realize their dream.
In early 2020, Peruvian Brothers officially opened inside La Cosecha, a Latin American food market in Northeast DC. “We were able to open our first brick-and-mortar restaurant exactly the way we wanted, with the best equipment possible,” says Giuseppe. “We never had to cut corners, and our finished build-out shows that sophistication.”
Giuseppe says LEDC was more than a lender, they were a “family of resourceful teammates that have been helping us stay ahead, even during a crazy year, even in the increasingly competitive restaurant business.”
Since opening their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, the brothers have gone on to open a new location in Arlington, Virginia.
To find a Peruvian Brothers near you, visit https://www.peruvianbrothers.com/.
Photos courtesy of Peruvian Brothers