In case you’re looking for an all-in-one place in Lipa City, Batangas, consider dropping by The Sosyal Place. Apart from its impressive concept of being a one-stop shop, the story behind its expansion is such an inspiration.
On Valentine’s Day, I got to enjoy the cool weather in Lipa, awesome food at D’Baristroe café, and an insightful interview with young entrepreneur Monroe Laurenze Dimaano—the president of the Triple MLD Group, Super MLD Inc., Real Success Construction & Company Inc., and The Sosyal Place.
At 23, Monroe stands out because he knows what he wants. It was just perfect that his parents, who are in the construction business, have goals that are aligned with his. It is not every day we’ll meet a young man who enjoys collaborating with his mom. Together, they actualize business ideas.
Monroe toured us around the family-owned business complex that houses a grocery store, pharmacy, coffee shop, salon, hotel and villas, and a soon-to-open VIP bar. One would not think that the flourishing business site with patrons coming in was also hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The young owner, inspired by his parents, led me to these business learnings.
• Dare to be different. A play with words, the catchy brand The Sosyal Place means two things—sosyal as high-end in Filipino slang and “social” as one relating to connectedness with other people. Aside from the unique open-type hotel hangout, The Sosyal Place also houses a coffee place with unique blends. Monroe dared to offer something new in a place already known for its kapeng barako. He has started a new coffee culture in the community.
• Use passion as your fuel. Have you ever been told to turn your passion into a profession? Why not turn it into a business? Monroe and his family are into good food and sharing meals as a family. This inspired him to personally explore and experiment with homemade recipes that are now being served at their in-house café. There is just so much love that goes into the personalized menu items before they are served.
• There is power in productivity. “I didn’t hire a chef. The pandemic gave me time to innovate our recipes,” Monroe happily shared as he talked about building his café’s menu over time. He invested time and effort in coming up with the best options for his consumers. His eyes lit up as he talked about the journey of finding the right ingredients and perfecting each dish like his now best-selling truffle adobo pasta.
• Kindness is the key. The family-owned business started a culture of treating its employees like family. While many have suffered from job losses during the pandemic, Monroe and his family made adjustments to make sure the company’s employees get to keep their jobs. It is also heartwarming to know that some people working in the café are homegrown and trained to develop skills for the different jobs.
• Grit makes you great. Giving up for Monroe was not an option when the 2019-opened complex felt the blow of the series of lockdowns. With the help of a lone delivery man, Monroe manned his café and mixed drinks to be dispatched via online delivery apps. He lives up to the show-must-go-on philosophy.
Asked what pieces of advice he can give to aspiring entrepreneurs, Monroe said, “Always keep a positive mindset. Do not rush things. We don’t always get results in an instant. Also, avoid comparing to others your success. Trust in yourself. Trust in the process.”
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