Community Advantage Loan Launches Latino-owned Farmhouse Paint Bar in Milwaukee
Thaime and Jesus Nañez came to Milwaukee as young immigrants. Thaime left Venezuela at the age of 20, got her bachelor’s degree, and worked in sales, marketing, and banking. Jesus came from Mexico (via Florida) at age 13 and, after graduating high school in Whitefish Bay, gained entrepreneurial experience in real estate, restaurants, and marketing. Both found ways to be of service in Milwaukee’s vibrant Latino community. The couple saw a business opportunity in a derelict farm building on a main road in Milwaukee’s south side Garden District. The question was how to accomplish their goal of bringing a venue for creative entertainment to the area. In April 2015, they bought the blighted property in a restaurant and hotel district and spent months restoring it. The building eventually became a charming red and white-painted farmhouse complete with a white picket fence along the road.
With the help of an SBA-backed Community Advantage loan from the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp., an SBA lender and women’s business center, they redeveloped the business’ retail space and put funds toward their business start. WWBIC small business advisor Lily Alvarado also worked with the couple. The City of Milwaukee and the local Business Improvement District provided grants for renovation and hiring staff. By December 2016, the couple opened The Farmhouse Paint Bar and Banquet Hall, and Thaime took a leap of faith by leaving her full-time job to focus on the business.
By offering canvas painting, sign-making, mosaic classes, and renting the space for parties and events of all kinds, the Farmhouse quickly flourished. Sales, profits, and staff grew every year, with 20 employees by 2019 to serve their 15,000 annual visitors and a strong social media following. That same year they turned the garage into a second studio with another bank loan. They also inaugurated the Frida-fest and Fiesta Selena family cultural festivals, collaborating with more than 50 artisans, performers, and vendors, and donated proceeds from both to Latino arts and community service organizations. With the advent of the coronavirus, the business pivoted to curbside pickup arts packages along with Zoom and distanced classes and outdoor events, using EIDL and PPP funds to survive. In the summer of 2020, they opened a food truck serving tacos on the premises of the Farmhouse to great success. Thaime and Jesus Nañez received SBA’s 2020 Wisconsin Emerging Small Business Persons of the Year award in recognition of their business development and service to the community.