Meet David Rangel

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Rangel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

Hi David , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

Work ethic is something that comes from within. It can come from family, life experience, necessity, passion, or even the drive for something different. For me, I learned about work ethic from my dad. As an entrepreneur, my dad started his own business when he was 30 years old. He was fed up with his employer and sought something different. Little did I know that I would follow in his footsteps years later.

While growing up, I saw my family struggle with having its own business. One day he decided to show me the ropes. So every weekend when I wasn’t in school I was working with him in his HVAC business. He would show me how to do everything from cleaning to installations. As I was a smaller kid, he would have me run wiring or piping in attics as well as under houses. I learned how to do the dirty work. His goal for me was to run the family business. He even made a business card with my name on it. Here I was a twelve year old kid with my name on a business card.

It wasn’t easy, and things didn’t turn out the way my father had envisioned. I didn’t end up running the family business, but ended up going on my own path. One thing that never left me was the work ethic he taught me. He always said, to do it right the first time, otherwise you have to go back. If you have to go back, it costs time and money.

I pursued that work ethic in everything I did. From a career in broadcasting, playing music, or even during my stint as a maintenance technician, it remained. Honestly, if you don’t have a good work ethic, in whatever you are doing it will show.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is David Rangel, my wife, Tess Eastwood and I own/operate Marinara Miracles, an Italian kitchen residing upstairs at Valhalla Tavern, a music venue/bar. What is unique about our spot is that it’s one of the only places in Austin that we know of, that you can get a slice of home made lasagna at a rock show. We also take pride knowing that our home made Italian eats can be purchased at an affordable price.

Our backgrounds come from creative areas. I have been an on again off again working musician for a long time. I’ve been in bands that have put out various albums. I’ve toured the states and abroad as well as managed a few known acts. Tess has a background in fashion. Coming from New York she earned her degree from F.I.T.(Fashion Institute of Technology) and moved to Austin years ago. When things didn’t really go the way each of us thought, we pivoted. She worked in the service industry and I pursued a few careers such as, audio/visual technology, broadcasting, maintenance or whatever I could to make my way. We both knew even before we met that we would do what we could to be successful.

As creatives, we push ourselves to make elevated dishes and simple comfort food for our customers as well as keeping the cost down. This is what keeps us sharp. We try new things to broaden people’s perspectives in a way that maybe they would never know, sometimes great food can break your bank. That’s our focus.

Now we provide catering for events, tech companies, whatever we can. We have since started doing pop ups at various music venues so that customers can stay and enjoy the show without having to leave for food. This is a new venture that we hope will take off! It’s also kind of fun serving food a show you want to see!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Honestly, the ability to take criticism, determination and the ability to adapt/overcome. Not in that order. There will always be critics, you will at some point in your life fail but if your really want to make your dreams come true, you have to work for it. A good friend of mine once told me, “If you never ask, the answer is always no.” Best advice ever.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m always willing to try something new and learn, whether it be in a business collaboration, making food, music, whatever. I find that it’s best to have peers that share the same interests but to also meet people who can show you a different perspective. Sometimes a point of view from the outside in can open your imagination.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.marinaramiracles.com
• Instagram: @marinara.miracles @rangleness @funeralkab @blackearth
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marinaramiracles https://www.facebook.com/davrangel/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-rangel-6aa52961/

Image Credits

All photos taken by Tess or myself