SAIPAN — Local sausage maker Marianas Churisos sold out within its first hour of business Saturday, opening its doors at the former Grotto Restaurant in Garapan in a soft launch the founders called a milestone for the company and for local manufacturing in the CNMI.
The company, a Cohort 1 startup of Northern Marianas College’s CNMI Innovation Incubator, produces Chamorro-style sausages inspired by the culinary traditions of the Marianas. The Garapan location gives the team a dedicated kitchen to serve customers directly and expand distribution to local retailers.
Marianas Churisos was founded by Stephen Sablan, Bill Torres, Ed Hofschneider, Dave Guerrero and Inas Hocog.
“This soft opening is a big milestone for all of us,” said Sablan, a Cohort 1 innovator with the incubator. He said the community’s turnout made the work more meaningful and thanked NMC and the incubator for the support that helped make the launch possible.
Sablan’s participation in the incubator gave the company access to rental assistance, kitchen equipment and mentorship as the team prepared its operations and the new location.
“Marianas Churisos is a strong example of what can happen when local entrepreneurs are given the opportunity and resources to develop their ideas into viable businesses,” said Cherese Palacios, program manager of the CNMI Innovation Incubator. She said the strong customer response marks an exciting achievement for the team and a meaningful accomplishment for the program.
The soft opening gave the founders firsthand experience in a live market, from engaging customers to gauging demand, with the first-hour sellout an early signal of interest in the product.
