Arts
Javier Sandes of Javi’s Cooking in Oakland had big plans to play soccer professionally, but after sustaining multiple injuries, he had to find a new dream. His second passion for cooking became a way for him to meet people in his community, share his culture with new friends, and make a little money to survive. It wasn’t long before Javi realized making empanadas was more than just a hobby—it had the potential of being a huge business. We sat down with Javi to hear how his humble empanada business turned into a massive operation over just a few years.