November 5, 2025 • 30 mins
How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield
Guest: Nagela Duperval, Founder of OU LA Restaurant
In this episode, Dreena sits down with Nagela Duperval, the Haitian-born entrepreneur behind OU LA — the stunning Caribbean restaurant in Carteret, New Jersey that’s redefining what it means to build something from faith and fire.
With no restaurant experience, Nagela spent three years building a $3-million space from the ground up while juggling a full-time job and family. She opens up about betting everything on herself, trusting God through the struggle, and finding her footing in an industry she had to teach herself in real time.
From real estate flips to restaurant ownership, from burnout to breakthroughs, this conversation is a story of courage, culture, and conviction — a reminder that even when the path gets hard, purpose always finds a way.
This is Nagela Duperval, and this is how she got here.
⏱️ Episode Chapters
[00:00] Introduction – Dreena welcomes Nagela Duperval and sets up her journey from real estate to restaurants. [01:26] From Port-au-Prince to New Jersey – Carrying Haitian language, culture, and community into a new life. [03:11] The Birth of OU LA – Partnering with Chef Duke and creating a space that celebrates Caribbean flavors. [05:28] The Opportunity – Finding the perfect location and learning commercial real estate the hard way. [06:47] The Financing Battle – Building a $3-million restaurant without investors or SBA loans. [10:06] Faith in the Struggle – How prayer, persistence, and strangers’ belief kept her going. [12:31] Lessons from Real Estate – Partnership, ownership, and being a Black woman in business. [15:00] The Highs and Lows of Flipping – From first wins to costly mistakes that became lessons. [17:47] Risk and Reward – Selling everything to make the dream real. [18:50] Life Inside OU LA – Managing 30 employees, long hours, and weekly payroll pressure [20:11] Food and Story – Haitian dishes, black rice, and how heritage shows up on the plate. [22:06] The Cost of the Dream – Burnout, balance, and learning to trust new leadership. [24:07] Black Women in Food – Speaking at the summit and finding strength through sisterhood. [26:15] Why She Can’t Quit – Faith, debt, and a promise to finish what she started. [27:21] The Impact Moments – When other Black women walk in and say, “Sis, we’re proud of you.” [28:19] Building Legacy – Hopes for her family, future OU LA locations, and believing it will turn around [29:30] Quick Fire – Red snapper, morning flow, and the song that takes her home.
Listen and follow How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield for more stories of purpose, resilience, and the pivots that shape who we become.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dreena Whitfield (00:00):
Today on How I Got Here, I'm sitting down with
Najla Du Preval, a Haitian bornentrepreneur, mother, and
fearless builder who is creatingsomething powerful here in
Carteret, New Jersey. She is theowner of Oola, a stunning
Caribbean restaurant that's morethan a place to eat. It's a
space filled with love,connection, and soul. She was
navigating a full time job,raising a family, and teaching
(00:24):
herself a brand new industryfrom the ground up. No playbook,
no restaurant experience, justvision, grit, and a desire to
bring a piece of her heritage tolife.
In this conversation, we talkabout where it all started, how
she kept going when the path gothard, and the legacy she's
building plate by plate, room byroom.
Nagela Duperval (00:43):
There were times when I'm building a
$3,000,000 restaurant, myaccount is in a negative. I
couldn't pay my bills, but I'mbuilding something.
Dreena Whitfield (00:53):
How do you say, okay, let me wake up, let
me go do the things, let mestill show up? Because that's
hard.
Nagela Duperval (01:00):
Every time I thought I was gonna crash, God
sent somebody to bail me out.This
Dreena Whitfield (01:08):
is Najla Dupervall, and this is how she
got here. Naj, thank you so muchfor allowing us to come tape
here, for opening up your spacefor us. I know you all are
closed today. Everyone has beentelling me to come to OOLA. I
used to live out here, so toeven see the change of downtown,
quote unquote, Carterette hasbeen amazing.
And for you to be a black womanin this space, in this dope
(01:30):
restaurant, like, I want toapplaud you. So thank you for
opening up your doors for ustoday.
Nagela Duperval (01:34):
Thank you for choosing me. I appreciate it. Of
course.
Dreena Whitfield (01:37):
So let's start with home. You were born in Port
Au Prince, Haiti.
Nagela Duperval (01:42):
I was.
Dreena Whitfield (01:42):
And raised in New Jersey.
Nagela Duperval (01:44):
Yes.
Dreena Whitfield (01:44):
And so how old were you when you came to The
States? And did you bring apiece of your culture with you
here that, you know, resonateswith you day to day?
Nagela Duperval (01:55):
So I was eight years old when I came from
Haiti, and I did. I did bring myculture with me because going to
a new school, not speaking thelanguage, a lot of my friends
that I still am friends with noware Haitian. Right? So going to
a school that had ESL class,English as a second language, so
I had to, you know, still keepthat little click because I
(02:16):
didn't understand the language.So I kept the culture with me.
My mom is Haitian. My dad, theydidn't speak any English. So I
still speak Creole to this day.
Dreena Whitfield (02:25):
Really? Oh, can you teach me something? I
only know, like, I only know afew things
Nagela Duperval (02:30):
because The bad words?
Dreena Whitfield (02:31):
Well, I don't even know those. I just know,
like, the regular ones, like,sack, passe Right. And nabule.
Nagela Duperval (02:36):
Nabule. Yep. You know, ula means are you're
here. Oh. Yeah.
That's what means. Okay. Okay.Yeah. Depends on how you're
using it, but it could meanyou're here.
I'm here. Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (02:48):
No. I used to so back in the day, when I was a
teenager, I worked atMcDonald's, and I worked with a
lot of Haitians from Elizabeth.And so they You're from
Elizabeth? No, I'm I'm fromWestfield, but, like, where we
worked, a lot of folks fromElizabeth came.
Nagela Duperval (03:01):
That's Little Haiti. I grew up in Elizabeth.
Dreena Whitfield (03:02):
Oh, wow. Mhmm. Okay.
Nagela Duperval (03:03):
Jefferson Park.
Dreena Whitfield (03:04):
Oh, okay. I know Jefferson Park. Yep. Yep.
And so what made you chooseCarterette as a home for Ola?
Nagela Duperval (03:11):
I'm an investor. Right? So I'm always
looking for ways to make money.And this space was just
available. It was introduced tome by a friend.
And I'm like, oh, okay. And Ihave a perfect partner that is
already a chef, that already hasa restaurant. I think we could
do a great collaboration. Sothat's how the opportunity came
about.
Dreena Whitfield (03:30):
So talk to me a little bit about that, because
everybody has a cousin, afriend, auntie, uncle who can
cook, right? And everybody'slike putting a battery in their
backs, like, Yo, you should openup a restaurant. You should open
up a restaurant. You aren't thechef or the culinary
Nagela Duperval (03:47):
girl. Just like to eat.
Dreena Whitfield (03:49):
Talk to me about how that partnership came
about.
Nagela Duperval (03:52):
So I have been going to SMA Cafes in Colonia
for years, and chef Duke, he'sjust a great, amazing chef. And
he reminds me of my mom'scooking because even though it's
not really Haitian food, but hestill has a lot of Haitian
dishes there. When thisopportunity came about, I was
just like, hey, chef. I know youhave a place here, but what do
you think about us creating,building a restaurant to
(04:15):
introduce people to our food? Alot of people don't know Haitian
food.
They wouldn't even know where togo to get Haitian food because
we don't have any any beautifulrestaurant that looks like this.
Right? And he was okay with it.He was like, Yeah, let's do it.
And this is how Ola was born.
Dreena Whitfield (04:32):
I was gonna ask, was there a specific
moment, family dinner, holidayor something that sparked that
interest for you to be like, Youknow what? I wanna create a
restaurant that's dedicated toour culture.
Nagela Duperval (04:45):
I think just over the years of me going to
Duke's place and I saw how muchit grew, like, place is small,
right? Yeah. So it's small. AndI was just like, you know what?
Like, he needs a bigger place.
I think he's such a great chef.A lot more people need to know
about him and, you know, hiscooking. So, again, when the
(05:06):
opportunity just came, I wasjust like, yeah, I wanna do
this. And I'm taking I wannabring chef along with me for us
to build this space.
Dreena Whitfield (05:13):
Talk to me about the opportunity because, I
mean, me and you were talkingbefore this, and you were like,
girl, there's a commercial spaceacross the street, and you
should look into something therebecause I you know? But I don't
wouldn't even know how to evenapproach opening up a commercial
space. So what was theopportunity that was presented
to you for you to open up Ola?
Nagela Duperval (05:32):
So a friend of mine knew the owner of the
building, and the space was forrent was for lease for a while,
I think a couple years. And Ihad mentioned to him, I would
love to be able to do arestaurant with Duke, something
bigger to introduce our food.And when he found out about it,
he was like, hey, Naj. I'llintroduce you to the owner. He
(05:54):
introduced me to the owner.
The terms were great. I was ableto get a year of, free rent
while I did yeah. Yeah.Commercial is different. Yeah.
The the owners usually give youtime to for the build out. And,
also, I was under the impressionI hear, you know, conversations
about, oh, getting SBA loans,and it's easy because you're a
(06:15):
black woman. You're a minority,so you're gonna be able to get
an SBA loan. That didn't happen.It wasn't that easy.
So I went into the space blind,right, not realizing it takes a
lot more than what people, youknow, were putting out for me to
be able to open. This took threeyears. Really? Yes. It took
three years.
Just, you know, negotiating thelease was about eight months.
(06:39):
Right? Because commercial iscompletely different from
residential. So it it was along, journey. Expensive.
Very expensive.
Dreena Whitfield (06:49):
So do you recommend, like I said, we know
people that always are like, Oh,I want to open up a restaurant.
What are the steps that youwould suggest for people that
would want to open up a space?
Nagela Duperval (07:04):
Do not sign a lease until you have your
financing in place. That was oneof the biggest mistake that I
made. I was just I'm I'm veryimpulsive even in real estate.
Right? I'm always like, you knowwhat?
I got people that got my back.I'm just gonna make it happen.
Let me just get in the spacebecause it's a great
opportunity. But just make sureyour credit is right. Just make
(07:24):
sure you have the financing inplace.
And this project took threeyears because I didn't have the
financing in place. I took a lotof bad debt. Right? I went to a
lot of people that I wanted tohelp me. People that I thought
was just gonna lend me moneybecause of who I was.
Right? And that just was not thethe case.
Dreena Whitfield (07:43):
When you talk about credit
Nagela Duperval (07:45):
Mhmm.
Dreena Whitfield (07:47):
What I just want to know, like, I want to
dig into, like, the financialaspects of, like, building out
something that looks like this,even if it doesn't look like
this. Just even just if I'mopening up a Kennedy Fried
Chicken or a pizza place, like,what do I need to do to have in
place before I'm even like, hey,let me let me open up this
(08:09):
business or let me go and tryto, you know, take over that
space? What would you suggest?
Nagela Duperval (08:14):
The best the first thing you need is an
attorney, right, that that canhandle those type of business
transactions. You need a reallygood attorney. A lot of time
people think because an attorneydoes practice real estate, they
can use an attorney forbusiness. No. You have to make
sure they specialize in these inthe industry that you wanna, you
know, tap into.
The credit. The credit needs tobe on point.
Dreena Whitfield (08:36):
Personal credit, business credit, like
Nagela Duperval (08:38):
Personal. Your personal because your personal
credit is what is going to helpyou get business funding. Right?
So if you don't have the strongpersonal credit, no one is gonna
give you business credit. So youwanna make sure the credit is
right.
When you're going for again,because this project was so big,
this is a $3,000,000 project. Itwas never supposed to be that.
(09:00):
Right? I thought I was gonnacome in here and build a million
dollar project or somethingunder that. Mhmm.
But it turned out to be way overbudget and and, you know, the
the the way that I envisioned itwas just way more expensive.
There were a lot of mistakesmade while doing this. So it
turned out to be way more than Ianticipated.
Dreena Whitfield (09:19):
I mean, did you ever I mean, you clearly
didn't, but like a $3,000,000project?
Nagela Duperval (09:24):
Girl, I'm debt.
Dreena Whitfield (09:27):
I I got I have anxiety for you because Anxiety
of is real. I mean, I mean, butGod's gonna make a way. Okay?
We're just gonna claim thatright He
Nagela Duperval (09:36):
may I I every time I come in here, no lie, I
I'm like, God, why did youchoose me for this? Because I
feel like I wasn't ready. Right?And it's still very emotional
because so many people,strangers believed in me, where
I had friends that I thoughtwould have supported me because
(09:57):
of who I am did not. There weretimes when I'm building a
$3,000,000 restaurant, myaccount is in a negative.
I couldn't pay my bills, but I'mbuilding something.
Dreena Whitfield (10:09):
How do you talk to me about that because
how do you trust me, I've beenthere, but I'm not building a 3
It million dollar was a mistake.Not look at it. Okay? Come on. I
know you don't drink, but drink.
Because I see it. You're aboutto
Nagela Duperval (10:29):
Girl, I get emotional talking
Dreena Whitfield (10:30):
You're about about be emotional. We're not
gonna do that. But when youraccount's in a negative, you're
building this $3,000,000project. How do you say, Okay,
let me wake up, let me go do thethings, let me still show up?
Because that's hard.
That's like a boulder on yourchest, right, waking up knowing
all of those expenses that youhave, and you don't have it.
(10:54):
Mm-mm.
Nagela Duperval (10:55):
I was already in it. Every time I thought I
was gonna crash, God sentsomebody to bail me out every
single time. I'm like, okay,God. Is this Right? Meant Like,
what is going on?
Is this meant to be? Because I'mnot supposed to have I I don't
have any background experiencelike, no experience in
restaurant. I just love to eat.Right? So I'm like, wait a
(11:19):
second.
Like, every single time I'mlike, god, okay. This is the day
I'm gonna crash. I can't paythese contractors. Right? I
can't pay the architect.
What is going on? Somebody, likeI go to them. I'm like, hey,
listen. This is what I'm tryingto do. This is my business plan.
They're like, okay. I like this.Let's make something happen.
That is how I was able to buildthis. I sold all my properties
(11:42):
that I had, which was a hugemistake because what I didn't
know is when you're going for anSBA, you need collateral.
And the the collateralcollateral that they look for is
real estate, you know? So Ididn't have any real estate
properties. It it was just a itwas a struggle. It was the last
three years was really, reallydifficult. And what I find is
(12:04):
people come in here and theylook at this place and they
think I've I've made it, and Ihaven't.
The struggle is real. It's stillreal. You know? So yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (12:14):
Before all this, you've built a whole real
estate career. What did thatteach you about ownership, about
being a woman in business, aBlack woman in business, and
betting on yourself even whenit's hard? Because you're going
through that right now. Right?Yeah.
Nagela Duperval (12:33):
I it it teaches me to just partner with the
right individuals. Partnershipis so important. The way I got
started in real estate wasbecause of a good friend of mine
that introduced me to it. Right?I was a real estate agent.
I worked a full time job, whichI still do. You still do? Yeah.
I still work a full time job.
Dreena Whitfield (12:52):
You you still work a full time job, and you
run this?
Nagela Duperval (12:55):
I run this. Yep.
Dreena Whitfield (12:56):
Yep. After the full time And you're a mom.
Nagela Duperval (12:59):
And my kids are old. I started young. You're
still a mom. Yes.
Dreena Whitfield (13:03):
Okay. I'm able to talk about that later. But
yeah. Okay.
Nagela Duperval (13:06):
Yeah. So I think it's taught me how to find
the right partnership because Ihad some deals that didn't go
well because of partners. Right?And but I had some deals that
went really well because I hadstrong partners. Right?
And it it allowed me to not puteverything on myself because I'm
a person that is just take on somuch, I don't know how to stop.
(13:29):
Right? So I think for me, it'sjust making sure that I find the
right partners when I'm goinginto any type of business that
I'm doing because I don't wantto do it by myself. It's hard.
Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (13:40):
How long were you doing real estate
development?
Nagela Duperval (13:43):
Oh my god. I got my real estate license back
in o five. Yeah. 2005. So and Igot the license not really so
much to to help people findproperties, even though I was,
but I got it because I wanted tounderstand the business before I
jumped into being an investor.
Mhmm. So I was an investor forover ten years. I loved it.
(14:03):
Yeah. I love going into aproperty that is just destroyed,
and I'm able to change itaround.
I I just enjoy that.
Dreena Whitfield (14:11):
So talk to me about, like, your first
investment property, because howdo you even what are the steps
to do that? Like, people gettheir real estate license, or
you you see all these shows onHDTV where it's like, oh, you
could flip, and you could makethis crazy, wild profit. How do
I, as a potential person thatwants to go in and flip houses
(14:31):
or invest in real estate, whatare the steps I need to do to do
so?
Nagela Duperval (14:35):
Well, right now, the market is tough. Right.
Right? Don't listen to Instagramon all these shows because it is
not easy at all. Like, I havelost a lot of money.
But finding the right prop itit's all about the numbers,
making sure the numbers makesense. Right? My first project,
I believe, was, actually, my ownproperty. I bought a property
during right after the crashhappened in o eight. Mhmm.
(14:56):
I bought it for, like, $1.30.Right? And then once my kids
graduated high school, Iinvested money into fixing up
the kitchen and the bathroom,and I was able to sell that
property for 330,000.
Dreena Whitfield (15:09):
Wow.
Nagela Duperval (15:09):
So I was able to use that money to go and do a
joint venture with my partnerthat brought me into the
business. Mhmm. So in a jointventure is where we collaborate.
We go in half and half. We use ahard money lender, which is high
interest, but hard money lendingis really for people that are
investors because it seemed likeit's cash, but really not cash.
Dreena Whitfield (15:30):
Mhmm.
Nagela Duperval (15:30):
Right? But you're paying an interest only
loan, and they only allow you touse that loan for a year. So you
have a year to make sure you'rein and out that project.
Dreena Whitfield (15:39):
That's quick.
Nagela Duperval (15:40):
Mhmm.
Dreena Whitfield (15:40):
Especially when things happen along that
that timeline. I mean, that
Nagela Duperval (15:44):
project went very well. I forgot how much we
paid for that property, but wewent in there, fixed it up. And
with him already beingexperienced, he allowed me to
take the lead Mhmm. And alsokept me from making a lot of
mistakes. The mistake I made wastrying to go on my own so
quickly.
Mhmm. Right? I went in andbought one property, then I went
(16:04):
and bought a second one becausethe numbers were so great. So
I'm like, you know what? I gotthis.
But we don't we don't realizethere are so many things that
can go wrong. That property Idid on my own, there was a oil
tank, underground oil tank.Right? I had and it was
contaminated. I had to spendmoney.
Dreena Whitfield (16:24):
How much was that?
Nagela Duperval (16:25):
Girl, it was like $12,000 because it was on a
hill. Girl, it was a mess. Itwas a mess. Then I ran out of
money, and I was I had anotherproject that I was waiting to
start working on. Right?
So I'm paying mortgage for twoproperties. It was crazy. Then
when I finally listed theproperty because I was done with
it, it was in Bloomfield. I'llnever forget. The sewer line
(16:47):
cracked.
So these two properties well, itwas the one property, the oil
tank and the sewer line. So nowI know going forward, any
property that I do I buy, youwanna make sure you do a tank
suite. You wanna make sure youdo a sewer line inspection
because I spent so much moneynot knowing.
Dreena Whitfield (17:07):
I mean, I wouldn't even know to
Nagela Duperval (17:08):
do that.
Dreena Whitfield (17:09):
Like, I why would there be an oil tank in
the back yard? Why would thathave under underground? Why
would that be there?
Nagela Duperval (17:17):
People don't realize it. A lot of these old
properties have theseunderground tanks. Right? And
then if it's contaminated,that's
Dreena Whitfield (17:26):
very It sounds like you thrive on risky
situations, though.
Nagela Duperval (17:30):
That's the problem because I'm so
impulsive. It's bad. Even takingon this journey, like, it is
bad. I'm really trying to changemy ways because I'm like, girl,
you gotta stop.
Dreena Whitfield (17:43):
But I mean, look what you build here,
though.
Nagela Duperval (17:45):
I know, but it's hard. It really is.
Dreena Whitfield (17:46):
It'll get better. It will. You mentioned
you had to sell off all of yourproperties. How many was that in
total?
Nagela Duperval (17:52):
I had three properties
Dreena Whitfield (17:54):
that I sold. How quickly were you able to
sell them, though, especially inthis market? Really?
Nagela Duperval (17:59):
Yeah. This was three years ago. I sold them
every
Dreena Whitfield (18:02):
three Three years ago, people was, like,
buying
Nagela Duperval (18:03):
I sold my mother house. I bought my mother
Girl, she's still mad. I boughtmy mother house in Hillside. I
renovated the whole house. And,I'm like, Mom, sorry.
I'm about to go into thisrestaurant. I'm selling this. I
had a a townhouse that I,renovated, sold that. And then I
had another property with, TheBlock. My girl Tasha allowed me
(18:27):
to sell and use the proceeds forthat.
You know? Yeah. That's my girl.That's my ride or die. Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (18:33):
And all of that had to go into here?
Nagela Duperval (18:35):
All of it. All of it. All of it went into here.
I put everything that I had,pulled out money from my $4.00
1, all my savings.
Dreena Whitfield (18:44):
Okay. So we just gotta make this pop. Yes. I
mean, is already.
Nagela Duperval (18:48):
Yeah. It is. It it is.
Dreena Whitfield (18:50):
But it's hard when you're going through it It
is. To see.
Nagela Duperval (18:53):
You know, because you have I have, what,
over 30 staff, you know? Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (18:57):
30 staff, wait staff.
Nagela Duperval (18:59):
Bartenders, line cooks, dishwasher, runners,
bus girl. Oh. The hostess.
Dreena Whitfield (19:07):
I know that overhead monthly is crazy.
Nagela Duperval (19:10):
Weekly. Weekly.
Dreena Whitfield (19:12):
Do they get paid weekly?
Nagela Duperval (19:13):
They get paid weekly. You know why? Because I
work a nine to five, right? So Ineed my money
Dreena Whitfield (19:19):
Right.
Nagela Duperval (19:20):
Every Friday. Right. You know? So, yeah, I
know what it's like. I know whatit's like to to work hard and
you want your money.
Dreena Whitfield (19:28):
So your partner in this restaurant, he
helped you, like, figure out,like, Nas, you need x, y, z
amount of line cooks, runners,and all that. Because I'm like,
did you even know any of that?
Nagela Duperval (19:38):
No. That's the thing that I didn't know. I
didn't know anything aboutrestaurants. I just know,
listen, I'm gonna build thisspace, right? Construction is my
thing.
I'm gonna find the rightcontractor to build this space,
and you come in and help me withfiguring out how many people do
we need in the back of thehouse, how many people we need
front of the house.
Dreena Whitfield (19:56):
I mean, this place is such a vibe, right? So
I think you're gonna do well.You already are. What's
something that's on the menu?What's one piece of art in here
that feels like a piece of yourown story on display?
Nagela Duperval (20:11):
The things we have on the menu, we have a
couple dishes on the menubecause we started having
Haitian people come in here andthey're like, wait a second,
where's the Haitian food? Right?Because they think it's a
Haitian restaurant and it'sreally not. Right? I just wanted
to be able to introduce ourfood, some of our food to,
people that are Haitian.
Mhmm. So we have the griot,which is, fried pork. Mhmm. We
(20:33):
have the, jonjon rice. And thejonjon rice, a lot of people
know it as black rice.
Dreena Whitfield (20:38):
Mhmm.
Nagela Duperval (20:39):
And even myself, I used to call it black
rice, and it's not that. So whenI opened the restaurant, I was
like, hold up. I'm like, why amI letting people call this black
rice? That's not what it is.It's jonjon rice.
Because just like African rice,they have what? Jollof rice, you
know, and that's how people knowit. So I started correcting
people and letting them knowit's jonjon rice, which is dried
(20:59):
mushroom. That's what makes itblack.
Dreena Whitfield (21:01):
Ah, okay. Okay. We talked a little bit
about being a mother. Your kidsare older now. Right?
But how do you with everythingyou have going on, full time
job, this restaurant, you stillhave real estate development
projects. Right?
Nagela Duperval (21:16):
No. So, you know, my partners from the block
has been holding it down. Ihaven't really been able to
invest the time Mhmm. To do anytype of real estate development.
Right now works.
Yeah. This is a lot. Right now,we're not even doing any more
flips, though, because my thatwas my role, handling the flip,
dealing with the contractors.But we don't have any flips that
(21:38):
we're doing because there's nothere's no properties out here.
The market is really high.
So now we're tapping into newconstruction, which is not an
area that I'm I'm familiar with.But once we do find some lots
and we're building newconstruction, I have to get out
there and and and handle thatpart of it and learn about it
because that's my role withdealing with contractors.
Dreena Whitfield (22:01):
But with everything you have going on,
how do you find balance? Like,how do you refill your own cup
day to day, especially with,like, just the weight of this
project?
Nagela Duperval (22:11):
Honestly, I haven't been able to. Right? And
I That's real. It's tough.Right?
Being in this space because Irealized I didn't really have
support.
Dreena Whitfield (22:25):
Do you mean, like, support from, like
Nagela Duperval (22:27):
The people that I put in place and position.
Dreena Whitfield (22:31):
But you know what? That's what happens. It's
unfortunate. Like
Nagela Duperval (22:35):
I've always told myself, like, okay, Naj, be
an expert at hiring experts. Andthat's what I was doing here
because my goal for here wasnever to be working this
restaurant. I wanna understandthe business Yeah. Enough
because it's it's mine. Right?
But I never wanted to be the onehere doing the work, and I just
(22:56):
wanted to come here and chill.Didn't work out like that. First
six months was just it it was itwas a learning lesson for me.
You know? There were a lot ofpeople that were in position
that weren't doing what theywere paid to do.
So
Dreena Whitfield (23:08):
I Now were have these people that you have
relationships with? And you'relike, let me okay.
Nagela Duperval (23:12):
Yeah. Just people that I hired.
Dreena Whitfield (23:13):
Okay. You know?
Nagela Duperval (23:14):
So now, you know, I had to bring other
people in to to help change thewhole platform, the whole
structure of That's a lot. Itis. And that's why I haven't
even really been able to findthe balance. And people say,
Nas, you need sleep. You needsleep.
And I do. Trust me, I wanna goto go to sleep. I wanna go on
vacation. Right? Y'all think Idon't wanna do that?
(23:35):
Of course I do. I don't wanna begoing from one job from 06:30 to
3PM, and then I have to comehere, I get here, come down here
by four, 04:30. And I'm heretill ten, 11:00. Sometime I'm
going home, and I'm, like,saying, you know what? Let me
just go for a little break.
Right? Just a little break. AndI'm passing out. I'm waking up
(23:55):
with the phone in my hand.
Dreena Whitfield (23:56):
Because you're exhausted.
Nagela Duperval (23:58):
I'm exhausted. I I wanna be able to find a
balance, and I pray about thatall the time, but I haven't been
able to yet. Not yet.
Dreena Whitfield (24:07):
This year, you you had a pretty big deal, with
speaking at the Black Women inFood Summit. Right? I'm sure as
a woman in this space, enteringthis new space, that was huge
for you, right? It was. What wasit like being in that room?
What did you want womenlistening to your talk to take
away from your conversation? Andthen what did they pour into
(24:29):
you?
Nagela Duperval (24:30):
Oh my god. That was probably my escape because I
wasn't gonna go. My girlfriendactually volunteered me to to be
one of the speakers. And Iwasn't gonna go because I was
just like, I can't leave thisplace. Right?
But I was like, you know what? Ihave to go. And it was just
inspiring just to see all thesebeautiful black women and
(24:51):
listening to their stories. AndI'm like, oh my god. Yeah, Nas,
you got this.
I don't take time to pat myselfon the back and tell myself how
proud I am. Right? I forgetbecause I have so many other
things on my plate. But thatweekend, I oh my god. It it was
amazing.
I I'm so glad that I went. I Iwas able to meet Brandi, who is
(25:13):
now here helping me restructurethe business. Brandi? Yes. Okay.
That made our drinks. Yep.That's how I met her. Right? I
made so many connections there.
So I'm so glad I went.
Dreena Whitfield (25:24):
I'm sure you learned, like, being at that
space from some women that havebeen in the game for a minute.
What was one piece of advicethat you took away that really
helped, like, reignite yourexcitement, your focus, your
energy around this space?Because I know it's been hard.
Nagela Duperval (25:41):
Them just telling me their story and just
listening to what they wentthrough and how hard it is and
just realizing, yeah, there islight at the end of the tunnel.
I haven't seen it yet. Right?Just being fully coming. Right?
It is. But just hearing theirstory and them telling me, like,
listen, Nas, you got this.Right? You got it. Don't worry.
We're here for you. We'resupporting you. And, you know,
(26:04):
some of these women I do stillreach out to for advice because
I just feel, at times, I'm lost.Right? And when I feel lost, I
do pick up the phone.
And I feel like just giving upand just saying, you know what?
I'm I'm done. You know, I'm ableto still call them and and and
talk to them. And they're like,listen, stop. Stop.
Yeah. You did this, and you'regonna keep doing it.
Dreena Whitfield (26:25):
Because if you quit, right? Like, let's just
play the hypothetical. If youwere to quit, what would you do?
Nagela Duperval (26:32):
Man, I probably have to go back to Haiti, girl,
because I owe all this money.Lord Jesus.
Dreena Whitfield (26:37):
That's what I was gonna say. You poured so
much into this personally, Youcan't quit?
Nagela Duperval (26:44):
I can't you know, sometimes I say that, but
I'm not a quitter. Yeah. I couldnever
Dreena Whitfield (26:48):
I I feel you because I I say the same thing
all the time, and I'm like,you're not gonna do that.
Nagela Duperval (26:52):
You're just talking. Yeah. But I was looking
for somebody to take this overand just come in and buy it or
or operate it.
Dreena Whitfield (26:58):
Yeah. I mean, you just told me how you're
building out the patio. Like,Ola is becoming the go to spot.
People come here to connect,celebrate, have a good time. Out
of all of this, like, over thelast three years, what's one
moment that's happened here thatmade you stop and think, you
know what?
This is exactly what I hope thiswould be.
Nagela Duperval (27:20):
You know, I get those moments, honestly, at
least twice a week when there'sa woman that come in here, a
Black woman, and they're like,who's the owner here? And I tell
my staff, stop telling peopleI'm the owner. But they do
anyway. And they're like, sis,this is amazing. We are so proud
(27:41):
of you.
See? Right.
Dreena Whitfield (27:43):
But when you're having those moments of
doubt, you have to replay thosethose It bright spots is hard.
Is hard.
Nagela Duperval (27:49):
It is. But I I do try to remember that. I do I
I started telling myself, like,hey, Naj, listen, it's hard. And
I've just been praying a lotmore. I was praying before,
right, but I've just beenpraying a lot more because I
pray I ask God to just surroundme with the right people to help
me to make this a success.
Dreena Whitfield (28:08):
And He is. He's lining them up for you.
When people say your name yearsfrom now or they tell someone
about Ola, what do you hope theysay?
Nagela Duperval (28:18):
I hope they say, like, OOLAH is a brand.
It's a place where you're gonnaget great food, really good
service. Right? It's a vibe. Iwant it to be I want people to
know that this is a vibe.
Dreena Whitfield (28:33):
And what's the legacy that you're really
building here?
Nagela Duperval (28:36):
Oh, god. My first of my kids don't even want
anything to do with this. Right?
Dreena Whitfield (28:42):
Right now.
Nagela Duperval (28:42):
Right now. They don't. My brother, you know and
and I raised my brother also.Right? He's like a year older
than my son.
I'm hoping he could take thisover. He's here. He's helped.
He's one of my investors. He wasin a really bad car accident.
And this boy took all his moneyfrom his lawsuit and put it into
You here for know? Yes. So I'mhoping that he is the one that
(29:07):
come in and take over, and I'mable to build multiple locations
so that you yeah. Can
Dreena Whitfield (29:13):
I asked you about that earlier?
Nagela Duperval (29:15):
Know. I was saying, know, I'm I'm hoping.
Because I do know there's gotthere it's gonna turn around.
It's just right now when I'm init, I don't see
Dreena Whitfield (29:23):
it. Yeah.
Nagela Duperval (29:24):
I don't know how it's gonna happen, but I
know it will.
Dreena Whitfield (29:26):
Yeah, it will. Yep. So now I'm gonna ask you
some quick fire questions. Iwant you to just tell me what's
the first thing that comes tomind.
Nagela Duperval (29:33):
Okay.
Dreena Whitfield (29:34):
It's nothing crazy because I see you're
looking up in the air, like,what what are we about to What
is one dish you'll never takeoff the Oolah menu?
Nagela Duperval (29:42):
Red snapper. I love you some snapper. I'm
Haitian.
Dreena Whitfield (29:46):
Morning person or late creative flow?
Nagela Duperval (29:49):
Morning.
Dreena Whitfield (29:50):
And what song instantly takes you back to
Haiti?
Nagela Duperval (30:05):
Then. Ola la. Ola
Dreena Whitfield (30:07):
la is
Nagela Duperval (30:07):
the name of the song. Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (30:08):
Ola la. Naj, thank you so much for your
Nagela Duperval (30:12):
time today.
Dreena Whitfield (30:13):
Thank you for opening up your doors. I wish
you could eat.
Nagela Duperval (30:15):
I want you guys to try the food. We cover that.
Okay. Before
Dreena Whitfield (30:19):
we go, I want you to tell people how to find
you, connect with you, supportOola. Tell us all the things.
Nagela Duperval (30:25):
Yes. So you can come to 29 Washington Avenue in
Carteret, New Jersey. Ourwebsite is oulanj, 0ulanj.com.
Our Instagram and Facebook andTikTok is also 0ulanj. Oulanj,
New Jersey.
I appreciate you. Thank you.Thank you so much. I appreciate
you.
Today on How I Got Here, I'm sitting down with
Najla Du Preval, a Haitian bornentrepreneur, mother, and
fearless builder who is creatingsomething powerful here in
Carteret, New Jersey. She is theowner of Oola, a stunning
Caribbean restaurant that's morethan a place to eat. It's a
space filled with love,connection, and soul. She was
navigating a full time job,raising a family, and teaching
(00:24):
herself a brand new industryfrom the ground up. No playbook,
no restaurant experience, justvision, grit, and a desire to
bring a piece of her heritage tolife.
In this conversation, we talkabout where it all started, how
she kept going when the path gothard, and the legacy she's
building plate by plate, room byroom.
Nagela Duperval (00:43):
There were times when I'm building a
$3,000,000 restaurant, myaccount is in a negative. I
couldn't pay my bills, but I'mbuilding something.
Dreena Whitfield (00:53):
How do you say, okay, let me wake up, let
me go do the things, let mestill show up? Because that's
hard.
Nagela Duperval (01:00):
Every time I thought I was gonna crash, God
sent somebody to bail me out.This
Dreena Whitfield (01:08):
is Najla Dupervall, and this is how she
got here. Naj, thank you so muchfor allowing us to come tape
here, for opening up your spacefor us. I know you all are
closed today. Everyone has beentelling me to come to OOLA. I
used to live out here, so toeven see the change of downtown,
quote unquote, Carterette hasbeen amazing.
And for you to be a black womanin this space, in this dope
(01:30):
restaurant, like, I want toapplaud you. So thank you for
opening up your doors for ustoday.
Nagela Duperval (01:34):
Thank you for choosing me. I appreciate it. Of
course.
Dreena Whitfield (01:37):
So let's start with home. You were born in Port
Au Prince, Haiti.
Nagela Duperval (01:42):
I was.
Dreena Whitfield (01:42):
And raised in New Jersey.
Nagela Duperval (01:44):
Yes.
Dreena Whitfield (01:44):
And so how old were you when you came to The
States? And did you bring apiece of your culture with you
here that, you know, resonateswith you day to day?
Nagela Duperval (01:55):
So I was eight years old when I came from
Haiti, and I did. I did bring myculture with me because going to
a new school, not speaking thelanguage, a lot of my friends
that I still am friends with noware Haitian. Right? So going to
a school that had ESL class,English as a second language, so
I had to, you know, still keepthat little click because I
(02:16):
didn't understand the language.So I kept the culture with me.
My mom is Haitian. My dad, theydidn't speak any English. So I
still speak Creole to this day.
Dreena Whitfield (02:25):
Really? Oh, can you teach me something? I
only know, like, I only know afew things
Nagela Duperval (02:30):
because The bad words?
Dreena Whitfield (02:31):
Well, I don't even know those. I just know,
like, the regular ones, like,sack, passe Right. And nabule.
Nagela Duperval (02:36):
Nabule. Yep. You know, ula means are you're
here. Oh. Yeah.
That's what means. Okay. Okay.Yeah. Depends on how you're
using it, but it could meanyou're here.
I'm here. Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (02:48):
No. I used to so back in the day, when I was a
teenager, I worked atMcDonald's, and I worked with a
lot of Haitians from Elizabeth.And so they You're from
Elizabeth? No, I'm I'm fromWestfield, but, like, where we
worked, a lot of folks fromElizabeth came.
Nagela Duperval (03:01):
That's Little Haiti. I grew up in Elizabeth.
Dreena Whitfield (03:02):
Oh, wow. Mhmm. Okay.
Nagela Duperval (03:03):
Jefferson Park.
Dreena Whitfield (03:04):
Oh, okay. I know Jefferson Park. Yep. Yep.
And so what made you chooseCarterette as a home for Ola?
Nagela Duperval (03:11):
I'm an investor. Right? So I'm always
looking for ways to make money.And this space was just
available. It was introduced tome by a friend.
And I'm like, oh, okay. And Ihave a perfect partner that is
already a chef, that already hasa restaurant. I think we could
do a great collaboration. Sothat's how the opportunity came
about.
Dreena Whitfield (03:30):
So talk to me a little bit about that, because
everybody has a cousin, afriend, auntie, uncle who can
cook, right? And everybody'slike putting a battery in their
backs, like, Yo, you should openup a restaurant. You should open
up a restaurant. You aren't thechef or the culinary
Nagela Duperval (03:47):
girl. Just like to eat.
Dreena Whitfield (03:49):
Talk to me about how that partnership came
about.
Nagela Duperval (03:52):
So I have been going to SMA Cafes in Colonia
for years, and chef Duke, he'sjust a great, amazing chef. And
he reminds me of my mom'scooking because even though it's
not really Haitian food, but hestill has a lot of Haitian
dishes there. When thisopportunity came about, I was
just like, hey, chef. I know youhave a place here, but what do
you think about us creating,building a restaurant to
(04:15):
introduce people to our food? Alot of people don't know Haitian
food.
They wouldn't even know where togo to get Haitian food because
we don't have any any beautifulrestaurant that looks like this.
Right? And he was okay with it.He was like, Yeah, let's do it.
And this is how Ola was born.
Dreena Whitfield (04:32):
I was gonna ask, was there a specific
moment, family dinner, holidayor something that sparked that
interest for you to be like, Youknow what? I wanna create a
restaurant that's dedicated toour culture.
Nagela Duperval (04:45):
I think just over the years of me going to
Duke's place and I saw how muchit grew, like, place is small,
right? Yeah. So it's small. AndI was just like, you know what?
Like, he needs a bigger place.
I think he's such a great chef.A lot more people need to know
about him and, you know, hiscooking. So, again, when the
(05:06):
opportunity just came, I wasjust like, yeah, I wanna do
this. And I'm taking I wannabring chef along with me for us
to build this space.
Dreena Whitfield (05:13):
Talk to me about the opportunity because, I
mean, me and you were talkingbefore this, and you were like,
girl, there's a commercial spaceacross the street, and you
should look into something therebecause I you know? But I don't
wouldn't even know how to evenapproach opening up a commercial
space. So what was theopportunity that was presented
to you for you to open up Ola?
Nagela Duperval (05:32):
So a friend of mine knew the owner of the
building, and the space was forrent was for lease for a while,
I think a couple years. And Ihad mentioned to him, I would
love to be able to do arestaurant with Duke, something
bigger to introduce our food.And when he found out about it,
he was like, hey, Naj. I'llintroduce you to the owner. He
(05:54):
introduced me to the owner.
The terms were great. I was ableto get a year of, free rent
while I did yeah. Yeah.Commercial is different. Yeah.
The the owners usually give youtime to for the build out. And,
also, I was under the impressionI hear, you know, conversations
about, oh, getting SBA loans,and it's easy because you're a
(06:15):
black woman. You're a minority,so you're gonna be able to get
an SBA loan. That didn't happen.It wasn't that easy.
So I went into the space blind,right, not realizing it takes a
lot more than what people, youknow, were putting out for me to
be able to open. This took threeyears. Really? Yes. It took
three years.
Just, you know, negotiating thelease was about eight months.
(06:39):
Right? Because commercial iscompletely different from
residential. So it it was along, journey. Expensive.
Very expensive.
Dreena Whitfield (06:49):
So do you recommend, like I said, we know
people that always are like, Oh,I want to open up a restaurant.
What are the steps that youwould suggest for people that
would want to open up a space?
Nagela Duperval (07:04):
Do not sign a lease until you have your
financing in place. That was oneof the biggest mistake that I
made. I was just I'm I'm veryimpulsive even in real estate.
Right? I'm always like, you knowwhat?
I got people that got my back.I'm just gonna make it happen.
Let me just get in the spacebecause it's a great
opportunity. But just make sureyour credit is right. Just make
(07:24):
sure you have the financing inplace.
And this project took threeyears because I didn't have the
financing in place. I took a lotof bad debt. Right? I went to a
lot of people that I wanted tohelp me. People that I thought
was just gonna lend me moneybecause of who I was.
Right? And that just was not thethe case.
Dreena Whitfield (07:43):
When you talk about credit
Nagela Duperval (07:45):
Mhmm.
Dreena Whitfield (07:47):
What I just want to know, like, I want to
dig into, like, the financialaspects of, like, building out
something that looks like this,even if it doesn't look like
this. Just even just if I'mopening up a Kennedy Fried
Chicken or a pizza place, like,what do I need to do to have in
place before I'm even like, hey,let me let me open up this
(08:09):
business or let me go and tryto, you know, take over that
space? What would you suggest?
Nagela Duperval (08:14):
The best the first thing you need is an
attorney, right, that that canhandle those type of business
transactions. You need a reallygood attorney. A lot of time
people think because an attorneydoes practice real estate, they
can use an attorney forbusiness. No. You have to make
sure they specialize in these inthe industry that you wanna, you
know, tap into.
The credit. The credit needs tobe on point.
Dreena Whitfield (08:36):
Personal credit, business credit, like
Nagela Duperval (08:38):
Personal. Your personal because your personal
credit is what is going to helpyou get business funding. Right?
So if you don't have the strongpersonal credit, no one is gonna
give you business credit. So youwanna make sure the credit is
right.
When you're going for again,because this project was so big,
this is a $3,000,000 project. Itwas never supposed to be that.
(09:00):
Right? I thought I was gonnacome in here and build a million
dollar project or somethingunder that. Mhmm.
But it turned out to be way overbudget and and, you know, the
the the way that I envisioned itwas just way more expensive.
There were a lot of mistakesmade while doing this. So it
turned out to be way more than Ianticipated.
Dreena Whitfield (09:19):
I mean, did you ever I mean, you clearly
didn't, but like a $3,000,000project?
Nagela Duperval (09:24):
Girl, I'm debt.
Dreena Whitfield (09:27):
I I got I have anxiety for you because Anxiety
of is real. I mean, I mean, butGod's gonna make a way. Okay?
We're just gonna claim thatright He
Nagela Duperval (09:36):
may I I every time I come in here, no lie, I
I'm like, God, why did youchoose me for this? Because I
feel like I wasn't ready. Right?And it's still very emotional
because so many people,strangers believed in me, where
I had friends that I thoughtwould have supported me because
(09:57):
of who I am did not. There weretimes when I'm building a
$3,000,000 restaurant, myaccount is in a negative.
I couldn't pay my bills, but I'mbuilding something.
Dreena Whitfield (10:09):
How do you talk to me about that because
how do you trust me, I've beenthere, but I'm not building a 3
It million dollar was a mistake.Not look at it. Okay? Come on. I
know you don't drink, but drink.
Because I see it. You're aboutto
Nagela Duperval (10:29):
Girl, I get emotional talking
Dreena Whitfield (10:30):
You're about about be emotional. We're not
gonna do that. But when youraccount's in a negative, you're
building this $3,000,000project. How do you say, Okay,
let me wake up, let me go do thethings, let me still show up?
Because that's hard.
That's like a boulder on yourchest, right, waking up knowing
all of those expenses that youhave, and you don't have it.
(10:54):
Mm-mm.
Nagela Duperval (10:55):
I was already in it. Every time I thought I
was gonna crash, God sentsomebody to bail me out every
single time. I'm like, okay,God. Is this Right? Meant Like,
what is going on?
Is this meant to be? Because I'mnot supposed to have I I don't
have any background experiencelike, no experience in
restaurant. I just love to eat.Right? So I'm like, wait a
(11:19):
second.
Like, every single time I'mlike, god, okay. This is the day
I'm gonna crash. I can't paythese contractors. Right? I
can't pay the architect.
What is going on? Somebody, likeI go to them. I'm like, hey,
listen. This is what I'm tryingto do. This is my business plan.
They're like, okay. I like this.Let's make something happen.
That is how I was able to buildthis. I sold all my properties
(11:42):
that I had, which was a hugemistake because what I didn't
know is when you're going for anSBA, you need collateral.
And the the collateralcollateral that they look for is
real estate, you know? So Ididn't have any real estate
properties. It it was just a itwas a struggle. It was the last
three years was really, reallydifficult. And what I find is
(12:04):
people come in here and theylook at this place and they
think I've I've made it, and Ihaven't.
The struggle is real. It's stillreal. You know? So yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (12:14):
Before all this, you've built a whole real
estate career. What did thatteach you about ownership, about
being a woman in business, aBlack woman in business, and
betting on yourself even whenit's hard? Because you're going
through that right now. Right?Yeah.
Nagela Duperval (12:33):
I it it teaches me to just partner with the
right individuals. Partnershipis so important. The way I got
started in real estate wasbecause of a good friend of mine
that introduced me to it. Right?I was a real estate agent.
I worked a full time job, whichI still do. You still do? Yeah.
I still work a full time job.
Dreena Whitfield (12:52):
You you still work a full time job, and you
run this?
Nagela Duperval (12:55):
I run this. Yep.
Dreena Whitfield (12:56):
Yep. After the full time And you're a mom.
Nagela Duperval (12:59):
And my kids are old. I started young. You're
still a mom. Yes.
Dreena Whitfield (13:03):
Okay. I'm able to talk about that later. But
yeah. Okay.
Nagela Duperval (13:06):
Yeah. So I think it's taught me how to find
the right partnership because Ihad some deals that didn't go
well because of partners. Right?And but I had some deals that
went really well because I hadstrong partners. Right?
And it it allowed me to not puteverything on myself because I'm
a person that is just take on somuch, I don't know how to stop.
(13:29):
Right? So I think for me, it'sjust making sure that I find the
right partners when I'm goinginto any type of business that
I'm doing because I don't wantto do it by myself. It's hard.
Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (13:40):
How long were you doing real estate
development?
Nagela Duperval (13:43):
Oh my god. I got my real estate license back
in o five. Yeah. 2005. So and Igot the license not really so
much to to help people findproperties, even though I was,
but I got it because I wanted tounderstand the business before I
jumped into being an investor.
Mhmm. So I was an investor forover ten years. I loved it.
(14:03):
Yeah. I love going into aproperty that is just destroyed,
and I'm able to change itaround.
I I just enjoy that.
Dreena Whitfield (14:11):
So talk to me about, like, your first
investment property, because howdo you even what are the steps
to do that? Like, people gettheir real estate license, or
you you see all these shows onHDTV where it's like, oh, you
could flip, and you could makethis crazy, wild profit. How do
I, as a potential person thatwants to go in and flip houses
(14:31):
or invest in real estate, whatare the steps I need to do to do
so?
Nagela Duperval (14:35):
Well, right now, the market is tough. Right.
Right? Don't listen to Instagramon all these shows because it is
not easy at all. Like, I havelost a lot of money.
But finding the right prop itit's all about the numbers,
making sure the numbers makesense. Right? My first project,
I believe, was, actually, my ownproperty. I bought a property
during right after the crashhappened in o eight. Mhmm.
(14:56):
I bought it for, like, $1.30.Right? And then once my kids
graduated high school, Iinvested money into fixing up
the kitchen and the bathroom,and I was able to sell that
property for 330,000.
Dreena Whitfield (15:09):
Wow.
Nagela Duperval (15:09):
So I was able to use that money to go and do a
joint venture with my partnerthat brought me into the
business. Mhmm. So in a jointventure is where we collaborate.
We go in half and half. We use ahard money lender, which is high
interest, but hard money lendingis really for people that are
investors because it seemed likeit's cash, but really not cash.
Dreena Whitfield (15:30):
Mhmm.
Nagela Duperval (15:30):
Right? But you're paying an interest only
loan, and they only allow you touse that loan for a year. So you
have a year to make sure you'rein and out that project.
Dreena Whitfield (15:39):
That's quick.
Nagela Duperval (15:40):
Mhmm.
Dreena Whitfield (15:40):
Especially when things happen along that
that timeline. I mean, that
Nagela Duperval (15:44):
project went very well. I forgot how much we
paid for that property, but wewent in there, fixed it up. And
with him already beingexperienced, he allowed me to
take the lead Mhmm. And alsokept me from making a lot of
mistakes. The mistake I made wastrying to go on my own so
quickly.
Mhmm. Right? I went in andbought one property, then I went
(16:04):
and bought a second one becausethe numbers were so great. So
I'm like, you know what? I gotthis.
But we don't we don't realizethere are so many things that
can go wrong. That property Idid on my own, there was a oil
tank, underground oil tank.Right? I had and it was
contaminated. I had to spendmoney.
Dreena Whitfield (16:24):
How much was that?
Nagela Duperval (16:25):
Girl, it was like $12,000 because it was on a
hill. Girl, it was a mess. Itwas a mess. Then I ran out of
money, and I was I had anotherproject that I was waiting to
start working on. Right?
So I'm paying mortgage for twoproperties. It was crazy. Then
when I finally listed theproperty because I was done with
it, it was in Bloomfield. I'llnever forget. The sewer line
(16:47):
cracked.
So these two properties well, itwas the one property, the oil
tank and the sewer line. So nowI know going forward, any
property that I do I buy, youwanna make sure you do a tank
suite. You wanna make sure youdo a sewer line inspection
because I spent so much moneynot knowing.
Dreena Whitfield (17:07):
I mean, I wouldn't even know to
Nagela Duperval (17:08):
do that.
Dreena Whitfield (17:09):
Like, I why would there be an oil tank in
the back yard? Why would thathave under underground? Why
would that be there?
Nagela Duperval (17:17):
People don't realize it. A lot of these old
properties have theseunderground tanks. Right? And
then if it's contaminated,that's
Dreena Whitfield (17:26):
very It sounds like you thrive on risky
situations, though.
Nagela Duperval (17:30):
That's the problem because I'm so
impulsive. It's bad. Even takingon this journey, like, it is
bad. I'm really trying to changemy ways because I'm like, girl,
you gotta stop.
Dreena Whitfield (17:43):
But I mean, look what you build here,
though.
Nagela Duperval (17:45):
I know, but it's hard. It really is.
Dreena Whitfield (17:46):
It'll get better. It will. You mentioned
you had to sell off all of yourproperties. How many was that in
total?
Nagela Duperval (17:52):
I had three properties
Dreena Whitfield (17:54):
that I sold. How quickly were you able to
sell them, though, especially inthis market? Really?
Nagela Duperval (17:59):
Yeah. This was three years ago. I sold them
every
Dreena Whitfield (18:02):
three Three years ago, people was, like,
buying
Nagela Duperval (18:03):
I sold my mother house. I bought my mother
Girl, she's still mad. I boughtmy mother house in Hillside. I
renovated the whole house. And,I'm like, Mom, sorry.
I'm about to go into thisrestaurant. I'm selling this. I
had a a townhouse that I,renovated, sold that. And then I
had another property with, TheBlock. My girl Tasha allowed me
(18:27):
to sell and use the proceeds forthat.
You know? Yeah. That's my girl.That's my ride or die. Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (18:33):
And all of that had to go into here?
Nagela Duperval (18:35):
All of it. All of it. All of it went into here.
I put everything that I had,pulled out money from my $4.00
1, all my savings.
Dreena Whitfield (18:44):
Okay. So we just gotta make this pop. Yes. I
mean, is already.
Nagela Duperval (18:48):
Yeah. It is. It it is.
Dreena Whitfield (18:50):
But it's hard when you're going through it It
is. To see.
Nagela Duperval (18:53):
You know, because you have I have, what,
over 30 staff, you know? Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (18:57):
30 staff, wait staff.
Nagela Duperval (18:59):
Bartenders, line cooks, dishwasher, runners,
bus girl. Oh. The hostess.
Dreena Whitfield (19:07):
I know that overhead monthly is crazy.
Nagela Duperval (19:10):
Weekly. Weekly.
Dreena Whitfield (19:12):
Do they get paid weekly?
Nagela Duperval (19:13):
They get paid weekly. You know why? Because I
work a nine to five, right? So Ineed my money
Dreena Whitfield (19:19):
Right.
Nagela Duperval (19:20):
Every Friday. Right. You know? So, yeah, I
know what it's like. I know whatit's like to to work hard and
you want your money.
Dreena Whitfield (19:28):
So your partner in this restaurant, he
helped you, like, figure out,like, Nas, you need x, y, z
amount of line cooks, runners,and all that. Because I'm like,
did you even know any of that?
Nagela Duperval (19:38):
No. That's the thing that I didn't know. I
didn't know anything aboutrestaurants. I just know,
listen, I'm gonna build thisspace, right? Construction is my
thing.
I'm gonna find the rightcontractor to build this space,
and you come in and help me withfiguring out how many people do
we need in the back of thehouse, how many people we need
front of the house.
Dreena Whitfield (19:56):
I mean, this place is such a vibe, right? So
I think you're gonna do well.You already are. What's
something that's on the menu?What's one piece of art in here
that feels like a piece of yourown story on display?
Nagela Duperval (20:11):
The things we have on the menu, we have a
couple dishes on the menubecause we started having
Haitian people come in here andthey're like, wait a second,
where's the Haitian food? Right?Because they think it's a
Haitian restaurant and it'sreally not. Right? I just wanted
to be able to introduce ourfood, some of our food to,
people that are Haitian.
Mhmm. So we have the griot,which is, fried pork. Mhmm. We
(20:33):
have the, jonjon rice. And thejonjon rice, a lot of people
know it as black rice.
Dreena Whitfield (20:38):
Mhmm.
Nagela Duperval (20:39):
And even myself, I used to call it black
rice, and it's not that. So whenI opened the restaurant, I was
like, hold up. I'm like, why amI letting people call this black
rice? That's not what it is.It's jonjon rice.
Because just like African rice,they have what? Jollof rice, you
know, and that's how people knowit. So I started correcting
people and letting them knowit's jonjon rice, which is dried
(20:59):
mushroom. That's what makes itblack.
Dreena Whitfield (21:01):
Ah, okay. Okay. We talked a little bit
about being a mother. Your kidsare older now. Right?
But how do you with everythingyou have going on, full time
job, this restaurant, you stillhave real estate development
projects. Right?
Nagela Duperval (21:16):
No. So, you know, my partners from the block
has been holding it down. Ihaven't really been able to
invest the time Mhmm. To do anytype of real estate development.
Right now works.
Yeah. This is a lot. Right now,we're not even doing any more
flips, though, because my thatwas my role, handling the flip,
dealing with the contractors.But we don't have any flips that
(21:38):
we're doing because there's nothere's no properties out here.
The market is really high.
So now we're tapping into newconstruction, which is not an
area that I'm I'm familiar with.But once we do find some lots
and we're building newconstruction, I have to get out
there and and and handle thatpart of it and learn about it
because that's my role withdealing with contractors.
Dreena Whitfield (22:01):
But with everything you have going on,
how do you find balance? Like,how do you refill your own cup
day to day, especially with,like, just the weight of this
project?
Nagela Duperval (22:11):
Honestly, I haven't been able to. Right? And
I That's real. It's tough.Right?
Being in this space because Irealized I didn't really have
support.
Dreena Whitfield (22:25):
Do you mean, like, support from, like
Nagela Duperval (22:27):
The people that I put in place and position.
Dreena Whitfield (22:31):
But you know what? That's what happens. It's
unfortunate. Like
Nagela Duperval (22:35):
I've always told myself, like, okay, Naj, be
an expert at hiring experts. Andthat's what I was doing here
because my goal for here wasnever to be working this
restaurant. I wanna understandthe business Yeah. Enough
because it's it's mine. Right?
But I never wanted to be the onehere doing the work, and I just
(22:56):
wanted to come here and chill.Didn't work out like that. First
six months was just it it was itwas a learning lesson for me.
You know? There were a lot ofpeople that were in position
that weren't doing what theywere paid to do.
So
Dreena Whitfield (23:08):
I Now were have these people that you have
relationships with? And you'relike, let me okay.
Nagela Duperval (23:12):
Yeah. Just people that I hired.
Dreena Whitfield (23:13):
Okay. You know?
Nagela Duperval (23:14):
So now, you know, I had to bring other
people in to to help change thewhole platform, the whole
structure of That's a lot. Itis. And that's why I haven't
even really been able to findthe balance. And people say,
Nas, you need sleep. You needsleep.
And I do. Trust me, I wanna goto go to sleep. I wanna go on
vacation. Right? Y'all think Idon't wanna do that?
(23:35):
Of course I do. I don't wanna begoing from one job from 06:30 to
3PM, and then I have to comehere, I get here, come down here
by four, 04:30. And I'm heretill ten, 11:00. Sometime I'm
going home, and I'm, like,saying, you know what? Let me
just go for a little break.
Right? Just a little break. AndI'm passing out. I'm waking up
(23:55):
with the phone in my hand.
Dreena Whitfield (23:56):
Because you're exhausted.
Nagela Duperval (23:58):
I'm exhausted. I I wanna be able to find a
balance, and I pray about thatall the time, but I haven't been
able to yet. Not yet.
Dreena Whitfield (24:07):
This year, you you had a pretty big deal, with
speaking at the Black Women inFood Summit. Right? I'm sure as
a woman in this space, enteringthis new space, that was huge
for you, right? It was. What wasit like being in that room?
What did you want womenlistening to your talk to take
away from your conversation? Andthen what did they pour into
(24:29):
you?
Nagela Duperval (24:30):
Oh my god. That was probably my escape because I
wasn't gonna go. My girlfriendactually volunteered me to to be
one of the speakers. And Iwasn't gonna go because I was
just like, I can't leave thisplace. Right?
But I was like, you know what? Ihave to go. And it was just
inspiring just to see all thesebeautiful black women and
(24:51):
listening to their stories. AndI'm like, oh my god. Yeah, Nas,
you got this.
I don't take time to pat myselfon the back and tell myself how
proud I am. Right? I forgetbecause I have so many other
things on my plate. But thatweekend, I oh my god. It it was
amazing.
I I'm so glad that I went. I Iwas able to meet Brandi, who is
(25:13):
now here helping me restructurethe business. Brandi? Yes. Okay.
That made our drinks. Yep.That's how I met her. Right? I
made so many connections there.
So I'm so glad I went.
Dreena Whitfield (25:24):
I'm sure you learned, like, being at that
space from some women that havebeen in the game for a minute.
What was one piece of advicethat you took away that really
helped, like, reignite yourexcitement, your focus, your
energy around this space?Because I know it's been hard.
Nagela Duperval (25:41):
Them just telling me their story and just
listening to what they wentthrough and how hard it is and
just realizing, yeah, there islight at the end of the tunnel.
I haven't seen it yet. Right?Just being fully coming. Right?
It is. But just hearing theirstory and them telling me, like,
listen, Nas, you got this.Right? You got it. Don't worry.
We're here for you. We'resupporting you. And, you know,
(26:04):
some of these women I do stillreach out to for advice because
I just feel, at times, I'm lost.Right? And when I feel lost, I
do pick up the phone.
And I feel like just giving upand just saying, you know what?
I'm I'm done. You know, I'm ableto still call them and and and
talk to them. And they're like,listen, stop. Stop.
Yeah. You did this, and you'regonna keep doing it.
Dreena Whitfield (26:25):
Because if you quit, right? Like, let's just
play the hypothetical. If youwere to quit, what would you do?
Nagela Duperval (26:32):
Man, I probably have to go back to Haiti, girl,
because I owe all this money.Lord Jesus.
Dreena Whitfield (26:37):
That's what I was gonna say. You poured so
much into this personally, Youcan't quit?
Nagela Duperval (26:44):
I can't you know, sometimes I say that, but
I'm not a quitter. Yeah. I couldnever
Dreena Whitfield (26:48):
I I feel you because I I say the same thing
all the time, and I'm like,you're not gonna do that.
Nagela Duperval (26:52):
You're just talking. Yeah. But I was looking
for somebody to take this overand just come in and buy it or
or operate it.
Dreena Whitfield (26:58):
Yeah. I mean, you just told me how you're
building out the patio. Like,Ola is becoming the go to spot.
People come here to connect,celebrate, have a good time. Out
of all of this, like, over thelast three years, what's one
moment that's happened here thatmade you stop and think, you
know what?
This is exactly what I hope thiswould be.
Nagela Duperval (27:20):
You know, I get those moments, honestly, at
least twice a week when there'sa woman that come in here, a
Black woman, and they're like,who's the owner here? And I tell
my staff, stop telling peopleI'm the owner. But they do
anyway. And they're like, sis,this is amazing. We are so proud
(27:41):
of you.
See? Right.
Dreena Whitfield (27:43):
But when you're having those moments of
doubt, you have to replay thosethose It bright spots is hard.
Is hard.
Nagela Duperval (27:49):
It is. But I I do try to remember that. I do I
I started telling myself, like,hey, Naj, listen, it's hard. And
I've just been praying a lotmore. I was praying before,
right, but I've just beenpraying a lot more because I
pray I ask God to just surroundme with the right people to help
me to make this a success.
Dreena Whitfield (28:08):
And He is. He's lining them up for you.
When people say your name yearsfrom now or they tell someone
about Ola, what do you hope theysay?
Nagela Duperval (28:18):
I hope they say, like, OOLAH is a brand.
It's a place where you're gonnaget great food, really good
service. Right? It's a vibe. Iwant it to be I want people to
know that this is a vibe.
Dreena Whitfield (28:33):
And what's the legacy that you're really
building here?
Nagela Duperval (28:36):
Oh, god. My first of my kids don't even want
anything to do with this. Right?
Dreena Whitfield (28:42):
Right now.
Nagela Duperval (28:42):
Right now. They don't. My brother, you know and
and I raised my brother also.Right? He's like a year older
than my son.
I'm hoping he could take thisover. He's here. He's helped.
He's one of my investors. He wasin a really bad car accident.
And this boy took all his moneyfrom his lawsuit and put it into
You here for know? Yes. So I'mhoping that he is the one that
(29:07):
come in and take over, and I'mable to build multiple locations
so that you yeah. Can
Dreena Whitfield (29:13):
I asked you about that earlier?
Nagela Duperval (29:15):
Know. I was saying, know, I'm I'm hoping.
Because I do know there's gotthere it's gonna turn around.
It's just right now when I'm init, I don't see
Dreena Whitfield (29:23):
it. Yeah.
Nagela Duperval (29:24):
I don't know how it's gonna happen, but I
know it will.
Dreena Whitfield (29:26):
Yeah, it will. Yep. So now I'm gonna ask you
some quick fire questions. Iwant you to just tell me what's
the first thing that comes tomind.
Nagela Duperval (29:33):
Okay.
Dreena Whitfield (29:34):
It's nothing crazy because I see you're
looking up in the air, like,what what are we about to What
is one dish you'll never takeoff the Oolah menu?
Nagela Duperval (29:42):
Red snapper. I love you some snapper. I'm
Haitian.
Dreena Whitfield (29:46):
Morning person or late creative flow?
Nagela Duperval (29:49):
Morning.
Dreena Whitfield (29:50):
And what song instantly takes you back to
Haiti?
Nagela Duperval (30:05):
Then. Ola la. Ola
Dreena Whitfield (30:07):
la is
Nagela Duperval (30:07):
the name of the song. Yeah.
Dreena Whitfield (30:08):
Ola la. Naj, thank you so much for your
Nagela Duperval (30:12):
time today.
Dreena Whitfield (30:13):
Thank you for opening up your doors. I wish
you could eat.
Nagela Duperval (30:15):
I want you guys to try the food. We cover that.
Okay. Before
Dreena Whitfield (30:19):
we go, I want you to tell people how to find
you, connect with you, supportOola. Tell us all the things.
Nagela Duperval (30:25):
Yes. So you can come to 29 Washington Avenue in
Carteret, New Jersey. Ourwebsite is oulanj, 0ulanj.com.
Our Instagram and Facebook andTikTok is also 0ulanj. Oulanj,
New Jersey.
I appreciate you. Thank you.Thank you so much. I appreciate
you.
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