The couple, originally from Colombia, immigrated to the United States with their daughter. In Colombia, they ran a pizza parlor, but they knew they could do better and wanted to seek opportunity elsewhere. That opportunity became a reality when the chance to be in a nutrition club called Herbalife brought them to Oakland Park.

Unfortunately the Herbalife location closed its doors, that closure created the opportunity for a dream Tatiana and her husband had always had. The locale was vacant and in it Tatiana saw a blank canvas from onto which they could Paisa Bites, a Colombian quick service restaurant. So they took up a leap of faith into the unknown, not realizing all that was involved in starting a business. 

Once they started they were hit with the cold realization that this was far more difficult and costly than they ever imagined. They realized they needed a brand-new kitchen, hood, exhaust, and they needed to do a complete rebranding of the space they were in. From electric to plumbing to designing a new bathroom to choosing paint for the walls, they did not realize all that was involved behind the scenes. Too late to go backwards, Tatiana and Jefer soldiered on to complete their dream. Despite all the challenges, they made their dream a reality and Paisa Bites opened in late 2021.