Accasia Martinez

Super Dave Quinn: [00:00:00] Welcome to Getting Neighborly in Fairview, Texas, the Official Community podcast for the Town of Fairview, hosted by the Fairview Economic Development Corporation. On every episode, we spend time getting to know our neighbors and hearing the stories that make our town a community. This is Getting Neighborly in Fairview, Texas.

Super Dave Quinn: Hi friends, and welcome to another edition of Getting Neighborly. I'm your host, Super Dave Quinn. Hi. Man, am I excited about today's guest? I've had the opportunity to work with this person now. Gosh, what has it been? How long have you been here? More than a year.

Accasia Martinez: A year, almost two.

Super Dave Quinn: Oh my gosh. Almost two years.

Super Dave Quinn: And it has been a blessing to watch what she's been able to do here in Fairview. And so I am excited today to welcome Acacia Martinez, owner of Acacia's Event Venue. Here in Fairview, Texas. So Casia, welcome to the show. Yes. Thank

Accasia Martinez: you so much, Dave, for having me. I am also super excited to be here with you today.

Accasia Martinez: It is incredible. We are coming up to our second year mark, July 1st, which we're also excited that it's going to be such a special day, right. Because we are actually partnering with Fairview to bring, I think, the very first bodybuilding. Championship to bear. I'm super excited about that. Is that crazy or what?

Accasia Martinez: Well, I am super excited about it too, but that's kind of the reason why I love being here and being able to partner with you guys and doing things like that for our

Super Dave Quinn: community. Well, so let's get into that. Let's talk a little bit about your backstory. One of the things that we do on this show is introduce our neighbors to each other.

Super Dave Quinn: And I think it's so interesting to see how people. Got to where they are, they're in their story. So if you would give us some idea of your background, how did you come to own Acacia's event menu in Fairview, Texas? What, tell me a little bit about Acacia and how you got here.

Accasia Martinez: Yeah. Well that is a little mind boggling even to myself.

Accasia Martinez: I never even imagined owning anything, , a venue. It's, it's a monster. It's like, wow. You don't bite small like cacia, you go all in or you don't. My background is all around people. I studied business but went straight out of high school into human resources, so I did a lot of general list work, a lot of compensations and benefits.

Accasia Martinez: I did insurance, so again, worked a lot with people. Then I went into hospitality and that's kind of where my. You got the bug. That bug of, oh my gosh. Events is really cool. I worked for Occidental Hotels and Resorts out of the Dominican Republic, and I sat at one of the biggest and best hotels for weddings.

Accasia Martinez: It was called, still is, but. I used to work in corporate, but I used to sneak out and go into the banquets areas and try to help with the weddings and all the different events, the fun stuff, all the fun stuff. And then I sat with my boss one day and I said, you know what? I wanna kind of keep working for you in the corporate stuff, but I also wanna develop events that help us bring our.

Accasia Martinez: Business partners togethers and he loved the idea. So I started doing golf tournaments for them and I started building fashion shows and

Super Dave Quinn: dance parties, not your traditional activities or events in the Dominican Republic, right? No.

Accasia Martinez: Well, The Dominican Republic is very culturally rich, right? So yes, they do a lot of it, but it was bringing those things to our corporate partners, right?

Accasia Martinez: Not just our everyday hotel guests, right? But to our corporate partners. So it, it was, it was [00:04:00] interesting. And then I remember it was for their 50th year anniversary, we did a full year of events. Every month we had like a huge event where we brought in not only our business partners but the community. So we did fashion shows and golf tournaments and art galleries, and we made sure to bring in the community and local artists and it was just amazing what transpired that year.

Accasia Martinez: So, And still today, they host some of these events annually. So it's really cool. And that's kind of the bug, that kind of, oh gosh, all right, I wanna keep doing this. But I never thought I was gonna own a business. Seriously. So we're a family of, you know, two salaried employees, just making a living for their kids.

Accasia Martinez: But I moved on to another corporate role and I found myself doing the same thing again. Oh, well, yeah, I'm doing hr, but what do you mean you haven't had a corporate holiday party in two years? We gotta do one. And there I started again. Then I moved here to Texas about 12, almost 13 years ago, and I started working for Frito-Lay Sales and Marketing.

Accasia Martinez: And I ended up doing the same thing again. You know? Yeah. I'm in sales and marketing, but I also want to put my hands into planning the events that bring us together. So I started with marketing offsites and putting training sessions together, and then I got the bug of that customer service and bringing in the customers.

Accasia Martinez: So, I kind of developed a little business plan and said, Hey, you need somebody to lead all your customer summits, innovation summits, trade shows. So that's what I ended up doing there. [00:06:00] And then I kind of sat at this parking lot cuz this building was closed for about a year and a half too. And I started, yeah, coming outta Covid, thinking about what can I do?

Accasia Martinez: In this building, and that's kind of how I built the business plan of opening a Casio event venue.

Super Dave Quinn: So talk about that. I mean, you're sitting here, it's an empty building and really it was a corporate sort of thing that happened. It was, it was busy, it was full, and they, they were doing good stuff. Ends up, you know, for whatever reason needing to close.

Super Dave Quinn: You're watching this sit there, it seems like the opportunity has presented itself. What was that like when you were like let's do this?

Accasia Martinez: It was scary. It was very, very scary. As a matter of fact, I I, I was like, you gotta be crazy. I think I think it was the [00:07:00] conversation with my husband that I was like, okay, so what?

Accasia Martinez: What do you think of this idea? If I quit my job and all of a sudden this two family income becomes a one family income and on top of that you're gonna get, you know, somebody that you gotta give some money to as well, because I'm always, you become an investor and he was like, you know what, Acaia, if anyone can do this, it's you.

Accasia Martinez: You put your heart and your soul into everything and. Just go do it. We'll figure things out. So I left my job, I took my 401k, and here I am. Oh my gosh.

Super Dave Quinn: That is all in. Yeah, all in. So tell us a little bit about the last couple of years, some of the things that you know, that have been special for you though.

Super Dave Quinn: You know, you've had events and things happen. What, what are some that stand out to you? [00:08:00] That you've been able to have here?

Accasia Martinez: Oh, wow. I think the, the most impactful one for me personally was a family gathering that we had here. It was the very first time that they were able to gather as a family.

Accasia Martinez: Their story is actually pretty cool because the, the person who hired us stopped. That he's a police officer and he stopped someone at a traffic, you know, for a traffic ticket, and it was actually his niece. And you know, as he's looking at her documents is that he realizes, oh, wait a minute, this is like a family member of mine, you know?

Accasia Martinez: Yeah. And he's like, well, We gotta do something, we gotta get together and we have to do an event. So they found us and they did that. And as [00:09:00] they're here in the building and I am seeing all these different, you know, generations of this family come together and they're. Kind of almost like meeting each other again, right?

Accasia Martinez: Because everybody grows up and moves away. And that's kind of how I feel with my family, right? But I grew up in a very tight niche, and that's what we used to do. I mean, we used to gather all the time, and we used to come in, we used to fly in everybody from where they all lived into the Dominican Republic visit with the grandparents.

Accasia Martinez: That was so special to me to see that I was serving as a stage for that type of bonding. It was incredible to me. I love

Super Dave Quinn: it. That is an awesome story. Yeah. So one of the things that I've been able to watch since you've taken over and not despairing, you know what was happening before, but. The event venue has become more than four walls on a roof, if [00:10:00] that makes sense.

Super Dave Quinn: Right? There's an energy and a passion when people have events here, it's, there's an, it's hard to describe. It's not just a, a building and a place, right? Like it's and I think maybe just because you're the owner and, and the, the passion and and purpose that you bring behind the event and, and wanting and helping them to make the most of it.

Super Dave Quinn: It goes well beyond just a location to have something. And that's, it's been phenomenal to watch and your heart for different community needs or like seeing where you can fill a need and, and being able to step up and say, Hey, I have this space. And being willing to engage and, and help those things take place, I think has allowed us to feel comfortable in supporting different things that would allow events to happen here, if that makes sense.

Super Dave Quinn: Right. Because it doesn't feel as if we're just, you know, [00:11:00] renting a place. We're supporting a woman entrepreneur who has made an investment in our community. And it's, it's our way of not only Creating the event or or making that event happen, but at the same time, leveraging that resource to help you achieve your purpose and passion, and it has just been absolutely.

Super Dave Quinn: Fun to watch. And I know as a business owner being a small business owner myself, and, and I completely understand the, the struggle and the, there's days when you're like, okay, that's it. I'm gonna throw in the towel. Where is it? Oh boy. If you could find the towel, you would throw it in, but you're looking around and you can't find it.

Super Dave Quinn: And so you're like, okay, one more day. And then something will happen and you know, that one day gets you, another month, gets you another, you know, six weeks, whatever. And so one, I wanna just say I appreciate all that you do and, and for you being here and doing that, and I'm so happy to be a part of getting to watch this happen.

Super Dave Quinn: So for those people that are out there listening our residents here in Fairview and the Allen community, Collin County, the greater area, tell us a little bit about the types of events that they can host here. I know, you know, typically we think of wedding events, but you do so many more things than that.

Super Dave Quinn: What, what type of events, you know, is this space built for and things that you would like to see happen

Accasia Martinez: here? Well, it's funny because. Again, this, you know, like we've said this, this was built back in 2014 and, and back then it was designed and built as a really a, primarily a wedding venue. It was seen a lot as a wedding venue, and I think that's probably what we do the least here.

Accasia Martinez: That's fascinating. Yes, we have had weddings, but it's not what we do most. What we do most is. Family gatherings, milestone birthdays, baby showers, engagement parties. And I think it's mostly because of what you mentioned earlier, it is not just a space that I am renting. I think one of, the biggest things that I'm proud of is that, Every single client that has had an event here doesn't just rent four walls.

Accasia Martinez: They rent a space where they are, they can call home, and they feel that like that when they're here. And then I'm here with them from beginning. To end. I'm the first one in the building, the last one out of the building, making sure that everything is going according to plan. Right? If I am, oh, it's time to cut the cake, but there's nothing to cut the cake on that table.

Accasia Martinez: Acacia is running to the kitchen to go grab something to cut that cake, right? Cause they're saying they're cutting a [00:14:00] cake. It's funny because. It really does hit me hard when I've had clients say what you just said. You know, I mean, we've had events here in the past and this is way above and beyond the experience that we had then.

Accasia Martinez: Yes, the space is awesome, but what you get now, it's not just a space, it's inexperience.

Super Dave Quinn: Right. It's that intangible thing that you don't put on paper. You can't put it on the website. Pictures really don't do it justice. I mean, you have all of those you can check the boxes.

Accasia Martinez: Yes, absolutely. And we are definitely blessed to be able to provide that intangible thing because that's, that's the reason why I do this.

Accasia Martinez: I do it not because of. The tables and the chairs and the decor and the, how beautiful it all [00:15:00] looks. But I do it because of that smile that those, that couple looks at each other with. The open arms when one person sees the other person walk in and say, oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in so long. I love that you're here.

Accasia Martinez: Thank you for being here. That kind of bond and feeling of family and just building together, living together. Love community. That's what I want here. And that's what we try to give our clients when they're here. I've gotta say, I call 'em clients cuz they are, but probably every client that I've had is now a Facebook friend and they follow me and they'll text me and say, Hey.

Accasia Martinez: Who was that, that, you know, that food that you had going on there or this decorator and I'll, you know, I stay in touch with 'em. They stay in touch with me because we create a bond and a relationship. And that's kind of what brings me pride and joy, right? Like I'm not just here selling to something. Creating that experience and building

Super Dave Quinn: relationships.

Super Dave Quinn: I always tell people there's a lot easier ways to make money than being an entrepreneur.

Accasia Martinez: Yeah, I could have kept my nice salary. I haven't seen a salary in two years.

Super Dave Quinn: There's a lot easier ways to do that, but man, it doesn't always provide those moments that you're talking about. And I think we're blessed to have you in the community because of that.

Super Dave Quinn: That X factor that you're bringing Right. And, and providing that for people. That is what we want Fairview to be. It's, you know, it's, it's a unique sort of place here in Collin County and, and it really, that's the whole purpose of the show is called Getting Neighborly is. We're friends here and, and there's [00:17:00] something to be said about building a community.

Super Dave Quinn: It's more than a transaction when people come and, and rent from you, that's obvious. It goes way beyond that and, and they may not even expect it coming in. What's funny is, you know, they, they, they don't often expect that, right? It is just, Hey, I'm, I'm renting a space. But the sort of white glove service I would say that you provide when someone does do that pulls the trigger and, and rents the event venue.

Super Dave Quinn: And, and as someone who puts on events in my business, I'm incredibly grateful for event venue operators who are willing to, to do that because there are so many different things going on that, you know, you put the event on and you might not even get to enjoy it, and you're like, I just spent all this money to have this event and I didn't get to enjoy it.

Super Dave Quinn: Right. Because you're worried about everybody else and, and how it's going. And, and so when you come in and, and offer that it really does allow that person to enjoy all of the work and effort and, and time they've, and money they've invested to [00:18:00] create that moment. They get to actually enjoy it.

Accasia Martinez: Absolutely. I find myself saying that to, to our hosts all the time. It's like, Oh, can I just get that from your hands please? And can you please just go dance? Just go dance. Yeah, just go enjoy it. Forget about that. We'll take care of it. And that's okay because that's, I mean, it's, it's interesting to see there's, you know, when you're when you're coming into the business, you, you have to do a competitive analysis.

Accasia Martinez: What, what are, what are other venues doing? How do they do it? Gosh, I've gotten it. So much criticism about like, well, you're never gonna make money because you're not doing X, Y, Z. And I'm like if I'm not gonna make money off of this because of that, then that's okay. That's okay because that's not what I want to do.

Accasia Martinez: That [00:19:00] is not my business model, you know? You have to own the bar. No, I don't. I want my people that come here to be able to have their vision come to life, and I am so diverse and, you know, open to so many different cultures and providing that unique experience for them that if I owned the bar and the catering and, and the decor, I wouldn't be able to do that.

Accasia Martinez: Right, because then only you know they would be constricted to just what you have. Exactly. And that's only for a handful of people. Right. Instead, I say yes to the Indian weddings, that one lights a small fire because it's such an important part of their ritual to make sure that [00:20:00] their culture is carried on.

Accasia Martinez: Right. Yes, we take precautions. Yes, I stand by the door. Yes, I'm monitoring every second, but they appreciate that a lot more than, no, you can't do it right or you're gonna have to go do that piece at home and then just come do the party here. To me that's like, okay, just come spend money with me.

Accasia Martinez: Right? I don't care about your rituals and your culture and all of that. Well, no, let's figure out a way to do it. Yeah. Unfortunately, there are certain things that we can't allow. But there's always a solve and a solution. You know,

Super Dave Quinn: I have, you're at least open to the question. It's not a hard No. From the get-go.

Accasia Martinez: Absolutely. And what I try to say is, let's figure out how to do it. Okay. It's not that we won't do it. It's how can we do it for you? I mean, I had a, I had a family that they wanted to, you know, roast [00:21:00] some goats here. They wanted to do that live. They wanted to be able to see that. I'm like, okay, well, let's get some tarps.

Accasia Martinez: Let's get some good grills. And let's put it on the patio. We'll leave all the windows open and your guests will be able to see that and experience it. Right. It's part of the experience. Right. But it wasn't a hard No. So we, we, we kinda, we do a lot of fun stuff and it's because of that, it's important to me that everybody is able to have those special moments that, you know, they had when they were little kids.

Accasia Martinez: And I wanna go and experience that now with my kids and rituals that are important for ceremonies, like weddings and engagement parties and things like that. Right. So yeah, we figured things out.

Super Dave Quinn: Wow, that's, that's fantastic. So tell me a little bit where people can find you and where they can get more information.

Super Dave Quinn: I know you have different packages and, and you know, you have you, you've got a pretty good capacity. You've got different rooms for different things. So if you have a small corporate event, You could do it and not have to rent the whole thing. And, and you offer some different, you've been great for us to us for being able to, being very flexible about our needs when the community needs different things or the city.

Super Dave Quinn: Do you have anything specific that you want people to know about the event, venue, and then where can they find

Accasia Martinez: you? Yeah, so we try our best to design packages that. Could work for almost everyone. Unfortunately, this is a very, very expensive place to be at. You know, it's Sure.

Super Dave Quinn: We're in Calling County, by the way.

Super Dave Quinn: I mean, it's, it's not an inexpensive place to

Accasia Martinez: exist. Exactly. So our operational costs are pretty high, but what we've done in order to accommodate is. Of course we'll have to reserve for bigger events the weekend, but anything Sunday through Thursday, if you've got a smaller event, you know that's only like 40 people, 50 people, we'll do what we call a partial rental of the space, and then you can book only like our banquet hall in our lounge area.

Accasia Martinez: Or you've got maybe a hundred, 120 people and will book only the ballroom. And you know, that's just ways of making it a little bit more accessible to the community when they have smaller

Super Dave Quinn: events or, so if you're a small business owner and you wanna get your team together and do some team building, you don't have to rent the whole space.

Super Dave Quinn: You could really have one of the smaller spaces. It's, I will tell you, it's very nice in here today. It's June and it's in the middle of, you know, it's one of the hottest days of the year. We're very comfortable in here, and so that's a great spot to have. Your summer retreats team building exercises could all be done

Accasia Martinez: in Absolutely.

Accasia Martinez: Here. Absolutely. Yeah. We've, we've spoken a lot about the social right, but coming from a corporate background, like I said, it was through corporate that I kind of. Sparked my desire to do event planning. So for corporate, of course, we've, you know, have that Monday through Thursday packages for corporate to come.

Accasia Martinez: Just do a training session, a team building a seminar. A training class, you know, anything like that. We can design any of our spaces. So we have the ability to do a large conference and do breakout rooms or just have, you know, 20, 30 people for a strategy meeting. We can absolutely do that. And then on top of that, we have some great partners that will, you know, do.

Accasia Martinez: Some training sessions come and do development classes maybe some marketing, maybe you wanna do some team building activities that are tied to a cause. So we'll help with that as well. And that way after you do your meeting, you can also just build some care packages for the homeless and have that cause for the community.

Accasia Martinez: As well and give something back. Nice.

Super Dave Quinn: And so where would they go to get information? Where can they find you and follow you? Where's that?

Accasia Martinez: Yeah, so I have a website, it's Acacia's event venue and I'm gonna spell that out cuz not a lot of people are gonna get Acaia.

Super Dave Quinn: Please do it Takes me a second to spell it every time.

Accasia Martinez: All right, so it's ACCASIAevents.com (https://www.accasiaevents.com), and you can find me on my website https://www.accasiaevents.com. And then of course, on my social feeds, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/accasiaevents and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eventsbyaccasia/.

Super Dave Quinn: Okay. Okay. Well, Accasia, thank you so much for investing in Fairview, for being one of our neighbors. You have been a fabulous neighbor to work with, and we look forward to many more events with you and, and, and helping you see your dream and purpose.

Super Dave Quinn: I'm a sucker for everybody that knows me, knows I'm a sucker for purpose and passion, and you have it [00:26:00] in spades. So thank you for being here. So thank you, Dave. All right, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for listening to Getting Neighborly here in Fairview, Texas. I'm your host, super Dave Quinn, asking you to like, share, and subscribe to our channel, share the good news and stories found here on our channel, and help our guests continue to make a difference in our world.

Super Dave Quinn: Thanks, and until next time, make it a great day. Thank you for listening to this episode of Getting Neighborly in Fairview, Texas. If you're a business owner interested in calling Fairview home, contact our office by email@edcfairviewtexas.org or visit us on the web at https://fairviewtexasedc.com. And if you're a resident and you know someone we should hear from.

Super Dave Quinn: Nominate them https://fairviewtexasedc.com/neighbors.