LaPaloma Sabanera Coffee House & Bookstore

405 Capitol Avenue Hartford, $50,000 Term Loan

La Paloma Sabanera is a new minority-owned bookstore and coffeehouse located at 405 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT. The store, whose name is derived from the Puerto Rican Plains Pigeon, highlights books and goods that celebrate PR culture through literature, visual arts, music, food and beverages. Food products include both American and Puerto Rican coffees, juices and snack foods. The store also offers a variety of books, magazines and local & home-of-origin newspapers that appeal to the residents of the Frog Hollow, South Green and South Downtown neighborhoods.

Leticia Cotto-Hillman, the owner of the store, came to CEDF after being turned down by other small business lending institutions. She worked with CEDF lending and technical assistance staff to strengthen her business plan and then to locate an appropriate site for the new business. She has opened at 405 Capitol Avenue, several blocks from the state capitol. Greg Lewis of CEDF has continued to work with Ms. Cotto-Hillman and her 3 employees in the area of inventory management and marketing. Greg feels that the business has a lot of potential. "LaPaloma Sabanera is a wonderful place to read or just meet friends," says Greg. "It is already having a positive impact on the community, locally and in Greater Hartford." For Ms. Hillman, the new business provides an opportunity to help the community while creating a unique establishment, directly of her own image.