Viva Long Prairie
By Kevin Allenspach
When Gabrier Perez arrived in Central Minnesota from Puerto Rico, he brought more than hopes for a better life—he brought a mindset: “Don’t bring me problems—bring me solutions.”
It’s a motto his partner, Miozoti Nieves, has heard often enough to put on a plaque. And it’s a philosophy that’s fueled their growing footprint in the region, from rental properties in nearby Clarissa to a retail smoke shop in downtown Long Prairie. Now, the couple is pouring their energy into their boldest venture yet: Viva Bar and Restaurant, a vibrant new space designed to bring people together over good food, shared stories and community spirit.
Opening Viva meant overcoming big hurdles—including financing a major renovation of a century-old building. But Perez stayed true to his approach, chasing solutions until he secured a state revitalization grant and loan support from the Initiative Foundation.
Administered by the Initiative Foundation and funded through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Main Street Economic Revitalization Program, the grant helped fund an $80,000 renovation of the building’s second floor. Once a wide-open shell, the space now holds six much-needed apartments that help address the community’s housing shortage.
Perez built on that momentum with a $125,000 plan to launch Viva Bar and Restaurant. A loan from the Initiative Foundation and its subsidiary, the Impact Fund, made it possible. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Impact Fund supports small businesses and entrepreneurs who may not qualify for traditional lending.
“There are nearly three dozen CDFIs in Minnesota, and all serve borrowers facing barriers,” said Doug Adams, Impact Fund finance manager. “But the Initiative Foundation is right here in Central Minnesota, supporting local businesses. We don’t try to replace banks—we complement them by helping businesses stabilize and grow until they’re ready for conventional financing.”
Despite success with their other ventures, Perez and Nieves likely wouldn’t have qualified for mainstream financing alone.
“Gabrier and Miozoti did a lot of the work themselves; they just needed help covering some of the cost,” Adams said. “The apartment project gave us a compelling reason to get involved. It helped cash-flow the bar idea. This building had a ton of potential—it just needed someone to believe in it.”
Space to Celebrate
Viva Bar and Restaurant offers a vibrant, big-city atmosphere in the heart of Long Prairie—a rural town of 3,700. With space for up to 250 guests, the venue features a circular bar at its center, and a dance floor complete with lights, a sound system and a DJ booth. An amusement area includes a pool table and coin-operated games. Tables, chairs and couches line the walls, along with two VIP booths, each accessed by a short staircase that gives the feel of a private lounge.
“The Initiative Foundation believed in this project,” said Nieves, who worked for six years as a bank teller and translator before turning her focus to her own businesses and raising their three children. “Without them, we wouldn’t have gotten the funding. We wouldn’t have been able to do anything. They were our main driver.”
Her partner, Perez, was recently elected to the Long Prairie City Council and helped lead efforts to launch the city’s first Latino Festival in July. Both Perez and Nieves are graduates of the Initiative Foundation’s Enterprise Academy, a 12-week entrepreneur training program. Nieves also serves as a community navigator, helping build connections between the Foundation and the area’s Latino population.
“Miozoti and Gabrier are kind of go-to people in town,” said Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst, director of the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce, who has worked with the couple and many other small-business owners to pursue Initiative Foundation support. “People just gravitate to them for advice. They have gumption. It was probably a $500,000 project they pulled off. And it wouldn’t have happened without the Initiative Foundation stepping in to close the gap. Now, we have a building that was once an eyesore” that is now a welcome mainstreet business.
The bar is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant serves appetizers, soups and hearty dinners featuring chicken, pork, shrimp, fish and beef—all available for dine-in or takeout. The chef, who recently moved to Minnesota from Puerto Rico, specializes in carnes fritas, a savory pork dish, and pechuga, a flavorful chicken entrée. Diners can also opt for classics like a hamburger and fries.
Doug Adams, finance manager for the Initiative Foundation’s Impact Fund, is a fan. “I had the shrimp pasta, and it was beyond delicious,” he said. “Saturday nights are hopping. They’re really developing a following.”
Long Prairie continues to evolve, shaped by new residents drawn to jobs at the local meat-packing plant. With them come new languages, traditions and ideas that are enriching the town’s culture and economy.
“I’ve learned so much since I’ve been here,” Perez said. “I love it. Even in winter—I love it. I like being in business. I’m only 40. I still have a lot of ideas.”
Viva Bar and Restaurant is located at 140 Central Ave. in Long Prairie.
Learn more about the Impact Fund and find out if your business or business idea qualifies for lending.