Local Coffee Shop Owner Wins Award

The owner of a new Glen Cove gourmet coffee shop was named the 2012-2013 Hispanic Business Owner of the Year for Long Island this week, recognized for overcoming added challenges facing Latino entrepreneurs.

“This is a proud moment for me and my family,” said Flores.  “I am honored to be recognized and am thankful for the support of Stony Brook’s Small Business Development Center, as well as my family, friends, customers, and the Hispanic Initiative resources that have made possible my dream of establishing an American business.”

The award, in its second year, is part of the "Hispanic Initiative" program established by the Stony Brook University Small Business Development Center. It is sponsored by the New York State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Organization of Latino Entrepreneurs.

The initiative seeks to highlight accomplishments of business owners who face a different set of difficulties in realizing their dream.

"Recognizing that Hispanic immigrants often must overcome multiple challenges — lack of education, language barriers, cultural differences and financing — the Hispanic Initiative seeks to support a successful transition, while adding to the engine of Long Island’s economy," said a statement from the organization.

Flores was honored along with two others: Ana Garcia, owner of The Three Brothers Food, a mobile food restaurant in Patchogue; and Jairo Zuluaga, owner of Zulnet Online Marketing, an IT company in Bay Shore. 

The awards ceremony was held at Bethpage Federal Credit Union's branch in Central Islip. The financial cooperative supports the SBDC by helping to provide Hispanic clients with a bilingual resource guide, an English/Spanish business plan guide and a bilingual source book.