Palacio Podcast
Robert Molina of Roxanne’s in Long Beach Knows the Entrepreneur’s Life
Robert Molina, owner of Roxanne’s in Long Beach’s California Heights, cut his teeth early in the business world: fourteen years old to be exact.
” The first thing I got into was promoting parties, events, doing little backyard [parties], getting into promotions and actually doing bigger clubs and festivals.”
Robert Molina, Owner, Roxanne’s 
You read it right: fourteen years old. But, you shouldn’t be surprised. Robert Molina comes from a family of entrepreneurs; whether it was the family’s home country of El Salvador or here in their adopted country. Events and promotions led to owning his first real business, selling pagers. Of course, with his parents’ permission.
“That started out in my house, in the garage, computer, you know the software, opening up an account, registering the business name.”
For Molina, he started on the road to owning a business and there was no turning back. He was in control and it was a feeling he liked.
“What I put in, I get.”
Just before his 18th birthday, Robert Molina sold the paging business. College followed, with a short-lived career as a medical technician, and then there was working with his family in a trucking business that kept him on the entrepreneur track. For Molina, running your own business comes with special rewards and risks. But, he’s learned to not be afraid. It’s advice that he freely shares.
“Don’t be scared…Don’t be afraid to take a risk.”
All this hard work led to fulfilling the real ambition of his life that would become Roxanne’s, a bar and restaurant with a special brand and ambiance that opened in 2010. (By the way, Roxanne is the name of his and wife’s first daughter). And then there’s the Exhibition Room in the back that’s been open six years. You’ll need to listen to the podcast to learn more about that special place.
PalacioMagazine.com sat down with Robert Molina out in the back of Roxanne’s where his next venture is taking shape: Marie’s Tek-Tec, a Tikki Bar. And he’s not finished. There’s a planned distillery, Wille’s Tin Shop (That’s a whole other story there).
His and his family’s story is the story of the American Dream and the promise of entrepreneurship and hard work. It’s immigrants contributing to the strength of this country and city and never once forgetting where they came from and where they are going.
Robert Molina in His Own Words
“After working in the medical field, just out of college, I went to work with my family and started M-Line trucking/transportation/logistics. After a while I realized a beginning of a goal by opening Roxanne’s, in Long Beach; then followed it up by opening The Exhibition Room. Both all well-regarded establishments and we are excited to be extending them with a brand new concept called Marie’s Tek-Tec.”
More on Roxanne’s
Visit HERE
More on the Exhibition Room
Visit HERE
