LASTS COMING UP. >>> SAN FRANCISCO HAS BEEN ON A MISSION TO FILL ITS EMPTY OFFICE SPACES. THE VACANCY RATE RIGHT NOW, 32%. ONE WAY TO FILL SPACE, FREE RENT FOR THREE MONTHS. IT IS CALLED THE VACANT TO VIBRANT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES OPEN POP-UP SHOPS IN VACANT STOREFRONTS DOWNTOWN. 17 BUSINESSES HAVE GOTTEN FREE RENT WITH THE HOPES OF REVITALIZING THE AREA. TODAY THE CITY ANNOUNCED A NEW LINEUP OF EIGHT ADDITIONAL LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE TAKING PART IN THIS PROGRAM. THE CITY HAS BEEN SHOWING SOME EXTRA LOVE TO MOM AND POP SHOPS THIS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK WITH WORKSHOPS AND OTHER EVENTS TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS BECAUSE IF THEY SUCCEED, THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN THRIVE. THAT IS THE CASE WITH ELANA'S WHICH HAS DRAWN A LOT OF NEW VISITORS TO WEST PORTAL. THE FAMILY THAT OWNS IT IS NO STRANGER TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, BUT AS LOUREEN AYYOUB SHOWS US, THEY CAME UP WITH A NEW CONCEPT ALL STARTING WITH A NOTE FROM A BELOVED MATRIARCH. >> Reporter: WELCOME TO ELANA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT WHERE AN ITALIAN FAMILY BUSINESS EXPANDED INTO ITS LATIN ROOTS THANKS TO A PASSIONATE MAMA AND HER DAUGHTERS. AT ELANA'S MEXICAN KITCHEN FLAVOR DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE. ELANA DUGAN AND HER DAUGHTERS WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE THE NEWEST LATIN RESTAURANT IN SAN FRANCISCO'S WEST PORTAL NEIGHBORHOOD. AS A MOTHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS, SHE WANTED THE EATERY TO REFLECT HER CHILDREN'S MEXICAN HERITAGE WHILE ALSO ADDING NEW AND VIVACIOUS CULINARY ENERGY TO THE COMMUNITY. >> I WANTED TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD FEEL AT HOME LIKE THEY WERE IN MY HOME, THAT THEY COULD COME IN, RELAX, LEAVE THEIR WORRIES AT THE DOOR AND HAVE A REALLY NICE TIME. >> Reporter: AND CREATING NICE TIMES IS SOMETHING ELANA AND HER FAMILY ARE QUITE GOOD AT. AS THE OWNER OF THE ICONIC ORIGINAL JOE'S, ELANA KNOWS THE ITALIAN FOOD BUSINESS WELL, BUT IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL NOTE FROM HER MOTHER-IN-LAW WHICH FIRST PROMPTED HER TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE MEXICAN HERITAGE OF HER DAUGHTERS THROUGH THEIR FATHER. >> I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WRITTEN IN SPANISH AND SHE ASKED IF I COULD DO ONE THING FOR HER AND THAT WOULD BE TO ALLOW KATHERINE HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK SPANISH SO THAT SHE COULD TELL HER HOW MUCH SHE LOVED HER. SO THAT'S A THING I TRIED TO DO. >> Reporter: ELANA NOT ONLY ENABLED THEM TO LEARN SPANISH, BUT SHE OPENED A WHOLE RESTAURANT DEDICATED TO THEIR HERITAGE. EACH OF HER DAUGHTERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROCESS. >> I FEEL TRUSTED THAT SHE BELIEVES IN US AND ALSO IT'S SUCH A FUN EXPERIENCE TO HELP. >> Reporter: TRAVELING TO MEXICO TO RESEARCH SPICES FROM THEIR HOMETOWN, ELANA AND HER DAUGHTERS HAVE BUILT A SPECIAL BOND THROUGH WHAT STARTED AS A PASSION PROJECT. >> WORKING WITH MY MOM HAS TRULY BEEN SOMETHING SO SPECIAL TO ME THAT I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR AND HAVE MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME. >> Reporter: AND THE BUSTLING NEW RESTAURANT WITH ITS LONG LINES IS REVITALIZING THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED WEST PORTAL DISTRICT, OFFERING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE COMMUNITY SAYS KATY TANG, DIRECTOR OF THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS, AS SHE HOSTS A SMALL BUSINESS POP-UP. SHE BELIEVES THE COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH IS ALL INTERCONNECTED. >> I THINK WITH ELANA'S NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES, BUT REALLY FOR THE SURROUNDING SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN WEST PORTAL, WHEN THEY CAN'T GET INTO ELANA'S, IT SPILLS OVER INTO THE OTHER BUSINESSES AND IT JUST DRAWS MORE PEOPLE TO THE CORRIDOR. SO OVERALL I THINK IT'S BEEN JUST SO GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ALL THE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA. >> Reporter: THE RESTAURANT KNOWN FOR ITS FRESH COCONUT MARGARITAS HAS ALREADY GARNERED RAPID SUCCESS, BUT FOR ELANA'S FAMILY, IT'S THE JOURNEY, NOT JUST THE DESTINATION, THAT HAS TOUCHED THEIR HEARTS. >> BEING ABLE TO GIVE MY MOM INPUT I THINK IS A REALLY AMAZING FEELING LIKE ONE DAY SHE'LL ASK ME WHAT I THINK OF A DISH THAT'S GOING OUT AND THE NEXT DAY I GO THROUGH AND THIS JUST GIVES ME A FEELING OF EMPOWERMENT AND IT EXCITES ME FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS BECAUSE WHO KNOWS? ONE DAY I COULD BE RUNNING MY OWN ELANA'S WITH MY COUSINS AND MY SISTERS. >> Reporter: RUNNING A AND THE PURE LOVE OF FAMILY.
