Sometimes entrepreneurship is a journey best shared. Beth Acuna was already successfully running her own business, a video store, when her husband Oscar decided that he wanted to be self-employed as well. "He was getting tired and wanted to do his own thing," Beth recounted, "He wanted to be his own boss."

The couple found a space in Northern Liberties. By January 2008, their joint venture, Arbol Cafe, was open. The cafe itself is small, lined with fragrant teas and coffees, a wide variety of cups for yerba mate and gourds for terere, both specialty Paraguayan drinks. There isn't much seating indoors, but most customers relax with their food and beverages in their outdoor patio, under the shade of a giant Chinese Empress tree. 
 
The menu features typical cafe fare (bagels, soups, salads), but also offers a variety of Paraguayan specialties. Most customers come in for the Lomito, a common South American sandwich they advertise as "like a burger, but better!" Their Paraguayan version has thin-cut steak, turkey ham, broken egg, romaine lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mayonnaise on a soft roll. The cafe often adds new seasonal specialties as well. "The menu is always changing," said Beth.

In general, the Acunas have found that this willingness to find new solutions and accept change are great skills for anyone running a business. "We've changed a lot since we've opened," Beth said, "In a small business, you want to end up somewhere different than where you started."

A willingness to change, but also to scrub things. And scrub. "Get ready to clean a lot!" Beth warned, "It's hard work!"