How two college friends turned N.J.’s Brisas Empanadas into a national brand

When Cameron Chung moved to Elizabeth to join his college friend David Orozco in his family’s restaurant business, he knew he would have to win his friend’s father over.

After all, Brisas Bakery & Restaurant was like another child to Albeiro Orozco, who founded the company about two decades earlier.

Chung, 33, who is Jamaican-Chinese, arrived in Elizabeth without speaking Spanish. “David’s dad refused to speak English, so I had to learn,” he said.

Within six months, he was conversational — while also running the register, serving customers, and sleeping in a tiny office above the restaurant.

“It was humbling,” said Chung. “I had multiple college degrees and had worked in New York consulting, and suddenly I was doing every job imaginable.”

The Orozco family emphasized responsibility and respect for their craft.

“One night, someone forgot to put a trash bag in the bin, and David’s dad was furious,” Chung said. “It wasn’t about the trash — it was about responsibility, attention to detail and trust. That day taught me more about leadership and running a business than anything else.”

Today, Brisas is one of Elizabeth’s original Colombian food brands.

From humble beginnings as a small family bakery in 1998, its empanadas are now a staple at Red Bull Arena. Through the years, it has grown into Brisas Brands, a nationwide supplier of empanadas, arepas, and other Latin-inspired foods.

An American dream

The journey from local favorite to national player started long before Brisas empanadas were on the menu at Red Bull Arena — introducing the brand to thousands of fans and opening the door to large-scale production and distribution.

“My parents moved from Colombia during the war-torn 1980s,” said Orozco, 34, chief operating officer of Brisas Brands and Brisas Empanadas. “They came to New Jersey pursuing the American dream, without English, without much money, without much formal education. My dad made it to about fifth grade; my mom completed high school. Elizabeth opened its doors to them.”

Albeiro Orosco, now 63, worked on construction sites and in restaurant kitchens until one day someone told him, “You could do this on your own,” his son said.

That advice sparked the idea for what would become “Brisas Colombianas y Palacios Lobos,” later simplified to Brisas, which is Spanish for “breeze.” Located at 262 Morris Ave., it’s less than a block away from the Elizabeth Train Station.

With his mother, uncle and aunt, the elder Orozco opened the first bakery and restaurant, which has become a community anchor in what is now known as Elizabeth’s Colombian District.

“My dad’s passion was transforming the neighborhood,” David Orozco said. “He didn’t just want a business — he wanted to help lift the entire community.”

Reflecting on his success as a businessman and the influence he’s built within the community, Albeiro Orozco said he feels grateful and proud about how his journey embodies the American dream.

This is “a family dream, a dream of hope, a dream for so many people who need it,” he said in Spanish, adding that Brisas has become a role model for many people.

“Not only for Latinos, but for Americans themselves,“ he said through his son David. ”I am grateful and will continue to contribute my dream, my passion, and my cuisine to this country.”

An entrepreneurial mindset

Orozco and Chung met at Florida State University, where they were members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

“We became friends almost immediately,” Chung said.

Both had entrepreneurial mindsets early on. While at FSU, Orozco organized concerts and events. Chung studied finance, marketing and professional sales in a specialized program.

“David convinced me to join the professional sales team,” Chung said. “That experience shaped how we approached business.”

At the time Chung joined Brisas in 2017, it was still the original bakery and adjacent restaurant. Brisas now has three locations including Brisas Bakery & Restaurant, Brisas Elmora – Bakery & Restaurant and Brisas Express all located in Elizabeth.

Back then, the initial plan was to franchise the brand as a quick-service, walk-in grab-and-go concept.

“The bakery and restaurant were producing 8,000 to 10,000 empanadas a week, all handmade by two or three people working long shifts,” Chung said. “If we wanted to franchise, we needed consistency and scale. We looked at an empanada manufacturing machine from Colombia — it could make 30,000 empanadas a day. That completely changed our approach.”

Instead of franchising right away, he said, they realized they could build a wholesale business.

Entering the major leagues

Around that time, the New York Red Bulls reached out to pitch a corporate suite. Orozco noticed the stadium had a large Latino fan base, but lacked Latin food options.

“They said they’d been looking for the right partner,” Chung said. “Even though we weren’t fully ready, David said we could do it. Within two weeks, we were presenting to the Red Bulls leadership team.”

A vegan and gluten-free attendee from Red Bull Corporate in Austria tried a Colombian empanada Cameron had helped prepare.

“She had never eaten anything at the arena, even though she had visited for years,” Cameron recalled. “We brought a vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free empanada, and she loved it.”

Within a month, Brisas empanadas were in the stadium.

That experience exposed them to high-volume production, freezing and distribution. Sysco Metro New York became their first major distributor, giving the team a platform for nationwide reach.

For Chung and Orozco, multicultural leadership is central to their vision.

“It’s not just about representation,” Chung said. “Having people from different backgrounds in decision-making positions brings perspectives that help shape products for a wide range of customers. Our root is Colombian, but the vision is national. We want empanadas to be something anyone can enjoy.”

Fusion products reflect that philosophy. One of their best-selling items is a Nutella empanada — an American favorite presented in a Colombian-style pastry.

“Every culture has some form of filled pastry — Jamaican patties, pierogies, dumplings,” Chung said. “Empanadas are a vessel. We can bridge cultures through flavors.”

Always community first

While Brisas Brand is expanding, they still cling to their community roots, said Kimberly Orozco, 23, David’s sister who oversees operations and social media for the restaurants.

“Something I’ve learned, is the importance of community,” she said. “I can only go so far on my own. If you want to build an empire or chase a big dream, you’re never going to do it by yourself.”

Manny Grova is a councilman at-large in Elizabeth. He said Brisas has long been a cornerstone in Elizabeth as a beloved gathering place for the area’s large Colombian community.

“This family-run establishment has built its reputation on delivering exceptional food, warm hospitality, and a true taste of home,” he said. His favorite Brisas item: Pandebono with butter.

As Orozco pointed out, the company’s philosophy is simple: Move fast and learn faster.

“My parents taught us that as immigrants, you sometimes have to work three times as hard —and we bring people with us,” he said. “That mindset has created a business that’s not just about Colombian food, but about a multicultural business poised for national growth.”