Meet Tajia Junior | Co-Owner of Hot Sauce and Pepper

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tajia Junior and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tajia, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
Starting a business has had a significant impact on my children’s lives. It has helped break generational cycles and foster a sense of ownership and integrity in them. From the outset, my children have been actively involved in our business, participating in various roles from cashiering to assisting with preparation work and attending events to accept awards. This experience has also made them more health-conscious; they recognize the importance of health and how a business can positively affect the community. Furthermore, my children have taken the initiative to start their own business ventures, including their own vegan candy machines, which is teaching them the value of financial independence.

What should our readers know about your business?
Hot Sauce and Pepper®️ (HSP) is a vegan soul food restaurant founded with a mission to address health issues linked to food choices. Our goal is to offer a plant-based alternative that retains the rich flavors of traditional soul food, allowing individuals to transition to a vegan lifestyle without sacrificing taste. We believe food is deeply cultural and serves as a form of communication and love, bringing people together at the table, which we see as a space for peace and community.

Initially, we started HSP as an alkaline vegan meal prep service. However, as I approached my due date with my pregnancy, handling meal prep became overwhelming. My husband proposed that we focus on our most popular item, the Caulifyah®️—our signature deep-fried cauliflower—by creating a vegan plate featuring this dish along with two sides. This approach was well-received, so we decided to take our offerings directly to the community.

Running a business has been challenging, requiring tenacity, perseverance, and the ability to overcome fear. During our time with the tent and pop-up setup, we transported our equipment using a U-Haul. On one occasion, while we stopped to pick up staff shirts, our U-Haul was stolen, along with all of our equipment. This was a significant loss, as we not only lost our setup but also the food prepared for that day’s event, which impacted our earnings.

However, instead of giving up, we chose to move forward. We engaged with our community and customers, and through their support, we were able to raise enough funds to purchase a food truck. This experience, which could have discouraged us, instead motivated us to work harder, ultimately leading to our success.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Eat: tacos Veganos, Coranado

Coffee: the Nile in Mesa

Hang out: south mountain, a mountain, camelback

Smoothies: add-on smoothies in Tempe

Work out: EOS

Read books: grassrootz bookstore

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out the hard work and dedication of the Rigsbee Law Firm’s The Whole CEO program, Local First We Rise Program, The City of Mesa Small Business program.

Website: https://www.hotsauceandpepper.com

Instagram: Hotsaucenpepper

Facebook: Hspflsva

Image Credits
Guey
Trell Hayes