How I Went From Prison To $1.1 Million Restaurant Owner

Ali Elreda cut the ribbon on his restaurant Fatima's Grill in 2016, three years after completing a six-year sentence for a drug charge. Last year, the Downey, California-based location brought in more than $1 million in revenue, selling a fusion of Mexican and Lebanese cuisine in eye-catching, Instagram-ready style. Fatima's Grill also has franchise locations in the Los Angeles area, Brooklyn, New York, and Denton, Texas — and Elreda says he's working on opening more across the U.S. and Canada.

Produced by: Zach Green
Senior Managing Producer: Eric M. Clark
Additional Camera: Tristan Pelletier, Valentina Duarte
Animator: Elham Ataeiazar
Reporter: Tom Huddleston
Additional Footage: Ali Elreda, Susanne Elreda, Getty Images, Envato

Subscribe to CNBC Make It.: http://cnb.cx/2kxl2rf

About CNBC Make It.: CNBC Make It. is a new section of CNBC dedicated to making you smarter about managing your business, career, and money.

Connect with CNBC Make It. Online
Get the latest updates: https://www.cnbc.com/make-it
Find CNBC Make It. on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBCMakeIt
Find CNBC Make It. on Twitter: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBCMakeIt
Find CNBC Make It. on Instagram: https://bit.ly/InstagramCNBCMakeIt

#CNBC
#CNBCMakeIt

How I Went From Prison To $1.1 Million Restaurant Owner