We had the pleasure of spending a few days in Azusa, CA and spent a lot of time at the Pasta Bar.  Geni and Mirko, a passionate husband and wife team started the Pasta Bar in February with no marketing budget and in their first two days welcomed over 1,000 customers and have yet to be in the red.

I was very curious how this could be the case, espeically in an economic downturn, for such a young business to experience so much success.  Then I walked through the doors and saw why – you are greeted by Mirko or Geni with a warm smile, they explain the menu and help you choose what to eat, insist that you sit while your food is being made and bring it to you pipping hot.  In addition to having great home cooked food at a reasonable price, they have taken advantage of new media and the ability to extend relationships with customers beyond the four walls of the restaurant.  The Pasta Bar has over 1k fans on facebook and 600 followers on twitter.  They have a foursquare special and a new blog that gives an inside peak into what goes on at the Pasta Bar everyday.

Geni and Mirko both believe that if you are passionate about something you have to take the chance and go for it – start small, start part time, but just start! If its something you love to do, start right away.

The interview is 15 minutes from youtube, I suggest you watch every minute of it, the passion these two exude is contagious.