Deborah, working at New Haven Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, is the 94.3 WYBC Virtual Lunch Club winner for the month of February 2024! Deborah and her guest enjoyed a delicious lunch with Wanda Coppage on zoom, courtesy of D’Amatos Seafood on Whalley Avenue in New Haven!
Want to have a virtual lunch with Wanda? Go to our WYBC Contest Page and enter to win!
Name: Sandra Pittman
Business Name: Sandra’s Next Generation, 636 Congress Avenue, New Haven.
Year Business was started in New Haven: 1989
Why did you start your own business?
Growing up on 99 Edgewood Ave my family and sold Soul Food dinners for $5. We sold out every week and my husband encouraged us to open a restaurant.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
Why not start a business in the community we live in.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
When starting our business, the most challenging element was being consistent. We had to duplicate what we knew worked day in and out.
Name: Evelyn Massey
Business Name: Noir Vintage & Co., 111 Court Street, New Haven
Year Business was started in New Haven:
My business came to life with a storefront June 2023 but started at the end of the pandemic as an online store on Instagram, and with the help of market pop-ups and vending opportunities around the city it also boost my brand as well.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I wanted to set up shop in New Haven where I grew up, it would only make sense to start this business where I’m most familiar and downtown was the ideal location to become the first black owned women vintage store that landed in the downtown area, also the first vintage store in New Haven owned by an African American woman.
Why did you start your own business?
I started this business out of love for timeless vintage clothing and the stories that came along with it, I’ve always been a person that loved old things there is such beauty in preserved treasures.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
My challenges came about when it was time to fund my business, the difficulties of having a dream that you are passionate about with no money is the real reality, but I never gave up on believing that I would accomplish this someday, even as I got older…I kept that dream until it manifested, and now I am downtown with a beautiful shop, and I must say this it is never too late to follow your DREAMS! If you see it and dream it, you can have it. Never give up, yes it will get hard because running your own business is never easy!
Just DO It!!!
Name: Linwood & Lachele Lacy
Business Name: Woody’s Wings, 91 Church Street, New Haven.
Year Business was started in New Haven: December 2019 on Whalley Avenue for 3 years
Why did you start your own business?
I wanted to show my different training styles of cooking with a fast-food twist. I also wanted to show off my love of seasoning and flavors on wings.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
It’s my hometown!
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
The challenge for us was not knowing the business side. The cooking side was the easy part. If it wasn’t for the Small Business Resource Center of New Haven giving us the resources, we would be totally lost. Our biggest take away is not to be scared to ask questions. Knowledge is key!!!
Name: De’Ari Allick
Business Name: Dope N’ Delicious, 300 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven.
Year Business was started in New Haven: 2021
Why did you start your own business?
I started my own business to give my kids a better future
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I actually started my first restaurant in Bridgeport but coming back home was the dream. Opening a restaurant is your own city is iconic for me! Brings hope to the community.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
The challenges you must overcome is staying consistent and never giving up on yourself. Times get hard as an entrepreneur so you must stay focused.
Photos are of Elaine of Petals Market.
Owner: Gideon Gebreyesus
Business Name: Petals Market, 100 Ashmum Street, New Haven
Year Business was started in New Haven: 2019
Why did you start your own business?
The area is known as a food desert, and the business was open to fill the void with the collaboration of Yale and ConnCAT/ConnCORP. To serve the Town and Gown.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
We have a vested interest in New Haven and do a lot of work in the Dixwell and Newhallvile communities, so it is a perfect fit. Down the street, we have ConnCAT, Which has been training people
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
Having been in the business, it was easy once we got everything in order. All stakeholders were on the same page. We got hit with Covid-19. It was challenging, but we got through it.
Name: Emerson
Business Name: BIM Auto Repair, 223 Whalley Avenue, New Haven.
Year Business was started in New Haven: 2015
Why did you start your own business?
I opened Bim Auto Repair as a tribute to where we were from. Bim is the name used for Barbados, where we grew up with a single parent raising five boys on her own in a government house.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
We moved to New Haven in 2015 in an abandoned building that had been vacant for over 15 years.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
We struggled the first 4 years because we were in an area in Hamden where our landlord was not allowing us to grow. We couldn’t do bodywork or sell cars because he sold cars next door to us in his own business, so we lost a lot of money paying bills and maintaining our business.
We started from scratch, bought all the equipment, put in 2 car lifts, bought a paint booth and everything else to run our business.
Name: Stephanie Williams
Business Name: Elite Hair Studio, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven
Year Business was started in New Haven: February 2005
Why did you start your own business?
In the span of two weeks, I transitioned from a hairdresser to a young Black business owner. During the time the salon I was at was closing, I saw an opportunity to have a smooth transition start-up. I noticed an available location two blocks away and have been here since February 2005.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I was born and raised in New Haven
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
Within the past 19 years, I’ve felt fortunate to service clients in and around the New Haven area, especially since I was born and raised here. Like many industries, you have to manage through economic hardships, client and employee retention, and continuing to perfect your craft. I encourage all upcoming business owners to seize opportunities, trust your instincts, and remain committed to your vision.
Name: Kristen Threatt & Brian Burkett Thompson
Business Name: Gorilla Lemonade
Year Business was started in New Haven: 2022
Why did you start your own business?
Gorilla Lemonade Lemonade was powered by Eat Up our food catering business. We started Eat Up in 2019 and we never sold beverages until 2022 and the rest was history. We got tired of hearing our customers say “ When are y’all going to get some drinks?” We didn’t want to resale other beverages when we can sale our own and receive complete profit.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
New Haven is where we are at. New Haven birthed our business and its only suiting to stay right here with our vision. Kristen is from New York City who also lived in other various cities and states through the years. Brian is from New Haven and has been here his entire life. For Brian this is a blessing for him to be that change in the city he is from and also building generational wealth in his city.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
The challenges Gorilla Lemonade faced in the beginning stages of our business was understanding how to do real business. Yes, making a product is apart of the business and sales is apart of the business. However, understanding bookkeeping, profits and losses, managing an efficient inventory, building a team and putting the right people in their perspective positions that allows them to do their jobs efficiently. Let us not leave out marketing dollars and we can go on and on but just know it was a roller coaster that makes you feel overwhelmed but we never got off the ride because we understood that its all apart of the growth of the business. Entrepreneurship comes with so many different emotions and challenges. We are grateful that we are Men and understand we are built for this purpose.
Name: Shem Adams
Business Name: Phillys A Taste Of Philadelphia, 1008 Chapel Street, New Haven
Year Business was started in New Haven: New Haven started in May of 2022 ( Phillys started in 2010)
Why did you start your own business?
I was previously an entrepreneur (Barber Shop/Music Engineer/Night Club owner) but never tried the restaurant industry. Since a lot of my Connecticut friends were starting to get hooked on the food I brought back from visiting home I figured it was worth a shot. So, I put the same energy as I did my other businesses and this one really took off.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
New Haven always was a dream for the brand. I felt like this city felt closest to Philadelphia in Connecticut. Its rich foodie history was also enticing. The fact that Yale is here didn’t hurt either.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
Proving authenticity was our biggest hurdle. Being from Philly just wasn’t enough. So, importing all of our products was key in validating our brand. The problem with that is it becomes extremely expensive to maintain that quality. This would scare most off or prompt them to substitute cheaper products. The good news for me is I’m not in this for a quick buck or trying to get rich. I believe in this brand. I know the long game. The long game is to create a brand that makes generational wealth for all that are involved. Knowing that I’m able to keep patient and keep on grinding to the goal.
