Arsha Jones had a unique craving during her fourth pregnancy – chicken wings with mambo sauce, a delicious condiment popular in Washington, D.C. decades ago. Jones shares with Entrepreneur that her husband had to make a 30-minute trip into the city to satisfy her cravings.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Capital City Mambo Sauce. Arsha Jones.
Having grown up enjoying mambo sauce, Jones decided to make it herself to ease her frequent cravings. What started as a personal cooking project quickly turned into a business idea when Jones and her husband launched Capital City Mambo Sauce in 2011.
Despite not having a background in entrepreneurship, Jones relied on her skills in website design to start selling online. Jones took a grassroots approach to growing her business, learning from other small business owners and focusing on getting the sauce into local stores.
“One thing about not having resources…is that you just learn to do a lot of these things yourself.”
With determination and hard work, Capital City Mambo Sauce secured partnerships with major retailers like Walmart and entered fast-food chains and sports arenas. The company’s self-starter mentality enabled them to navigate the challenges of each retail partnership successfully.
Now a seven-figure brand, Capital City Mambo Sauce continues to grow year over year by 25%. The strong foundation laid by the family-driven business has been instrumental in its success. Jones envisions using mambo sauce to showcase the vibrant community and culture of Washington, D.C. to the world.
“We have our own culture, our own slang, our own style and, of course, our own food,” Jones says. “The one thing that I’m excited about is making sure that people outside of Washington, D.C. get a chance to get to know who we are.”