Meet Joey Palomarez, founder of The Spaghetti Shack and JP’s Catering & Mobile Food, a Tempe-based food business bringing approachable, customizable Italian cuisine and full-service catering to Arizona communities. With deep roots in the restaurant industry and a passion for hospitality, Joey is building a growing business grounded in resilience, community, and great food.

Learn more & support at www.thespaghettishack.com

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1. Where is your business based?
Tempe, AZ

2. What does your business do, and who do you serve?
The Spaghetti Shack is a quick-service Italian concept featuring a Build Your Own Pasta menu at affordable prices! We also have a full-service catering company called JP’s Catering that has multiple cuisine types and menus for events on the go!

3. When did you launch your business?
January 2022

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The Entrepreneurial Journey
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4. What’s the origin story of your business?
I am a second-generation restaurateur! My parents had restaurants out in Queen Creek, so I’ve been busing tables and doing dishes since I was 13 years old. I opened this business with 4 of my best friends since I was in kindergarten. We had always dreamed of opening a business together, and restaurants and food were what I knew! So we set out on this journey!

5. What are you most proud of in your entrepreneurial journey so far?
I think I’m most proud of the resilience we’ve shown. This ride has absolutely been a rollercoaster at times, with some really good highs and some tough lows. But through it all, whatever problem was thrown our way, we’ve always found a solution.

6. What has surprised you most about being an entrepreneur?
I think what has surprised me the most has been the tightness of the Arizona business community. There are countless networks, chambers, and resources available to you if you’re looking for them. And most importantly, there are a ton of people who are in the arena doing what you’re doing. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to just bounce ideas off others, or even just vent if you need it—and sometimes you really need it! The small business community here in the Valley is incredible. I’m glad I’ve made an effort to be a part of it.

7. What has been the most challenging part of running your business—and what has it taught you?
I think the biggest challenge that we’ve faced and continue to face is finding sustainable funding. Food and beverage is a high fixed-cost, low-margin industry, and in order to compete with larger entities we need to continue to grow and invest. Many traditional lenders find our industry particularly risky, so finding that funding when you need it has been a challenge. Opportunities like this grant have been so helpful to us as we look for creative ways to level up.

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State Forty Eight Foundation & What’s Next
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8. What have you gained—or what do you hope to gain—from being part of the State Forty Eight Foundation community?
I have gained mentorship, community, and inspiration here from the State Forty Eight Foundation. Whether it’s the people I’ve met along the way, the incredible speakers I’ve had the fortune to learn from, or opportunities such as this grant, this community is a space for entrepreneurs to invest in themselves.

9. How are the grant funds supporting your business?
The grant is allowing us to upgrade some equipment we’ve needed in order to add to our catering operation. The funds and equipment are going to allow us to do larger events, add to our existing menus and concepts, and continue to better our services and offerings.

The restaurant is also going to be expanding its menu to add a fan favorite here very shortly :)

10. Where do you hope to take your business next?
As we continue to grow, our goal is to become more of a one-stop shop for event and catering food. With our mobile unit, catering operations, and multiple concepts, we want to be able to handle any and all needs. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate event, or food truck festival, we want to have a place at the table and to grow into that sector.

11. What does it mean to you to be an Arizona business owner?
Being an Arizona business owner means the world to me. I’m a third-generation Arizonan, and it’s the only place I’ve ever lived. My family, friends, and life are here. This is my community and home! To be able to bring value to my customers, employees, and vendors is something I take tremendous pride in. I love Arizona, and The Spaghetti Shack is a proud Arizona company!

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