By Leticia Cotto
El 17 de Junio del 2004 fue el primer día que La Paloma Sabanera Coffee House and Bookstore fue introducida a la ciudad de Hartford y su gente. Fue una labor de amor creado por Luis, Carmen, Melanie Cinthia y Leticia Cotto que nos cogió 5 anos para lograr.
Nuestro deseo era comenzar un negocio en la ciudad especializando en libros en español escrito por autores latinos y de temas Latinos y vender café de Latino América. Este rinconcito en la Avenida Capitol, se convirtió en un lugar donde se celebraba la creatividad, música, lectura, el arte y muy en especial tiempo para compartir. Toda persona que entraba por las puertas fue recibida como familia. Nuestra misión era crear un tercer lugar en la ciudad donde la gente podía entrar, descansar, y conversar sobre una buena taza de café. Lo logramos y mucho mas.
En el 2007, le vendimos el negocio a Virginia Iacobucci la cual siguió con el mismo concepto de comunidad por 5 años más. Infortunadamente, el 25 de Junio del 2013, ella tuvo que cerrar las puertas porque el dueño de la propiedad no quiso hacer arreglos a su propiedad ni mantenerla como la gente de esta ciudad se merece. El dueño del 405 de la Avenida Capitol no quiso negociar la renta con Virgina, y le rento el espacio a otro negociante que presentemente tiene varias violaciones con la ciudad de Hartford, pagando menos al mes de lo que Virginia pagaba. Hartford se ha quedado con un dueño y un negociante que no les importa mantener lo de adentro ni lo de afuera de su propiedad y negocio. Infortunadamente, esto pasa tan frecuentemente en los vecindarios más pobres de nuestra ciudad que nos acostumbramos, lo aceptamos como “normal” y aceptamos a tener porquería. Esta porquería no sería aceptada en otro vecindario más lucrativo, porqué aquí en Frog Hollow?
Nos merecemos más porque somos más. Somos más que drogas, alcohol, basura en la calle, edificios deteriorados, gente fumando pasto al frente de negocios y vagancia, servicio al cliente que es una porquería… Nos merecemos más.
Hartford ha perdido un negocio que no solo atraía una clientela bien diversa a esta ciudad, sino que también se preocupaba por el bienestar del vecindario. El negocio de La Paloma Sabanera se convirtió en una entidad donde todo el que entraba por sus puertas se preocupaba por cambio social y el mejoramiento de la comunidad local y nacional.
Mi mensaje al dueño del 405 de la Avenida Capitol y al nuevo inquilino que piensa rentar ese espacio: “Estén preparados para darnos lo mejor porque no somos una comunidad ignorante ni de porquería.”
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By Leticia Cotto
June 17, 2004 was the first day that La Paloma Coffee House and Bookstore Sabanera was introduced to the city of Hartford and its people. It was a labor of love created by Luis, Carmen, Melanie Cinthia and Leticia Cotto that took us five years to accomplish.
We wanted to start a business in the city specializing in the sale of Spanish language books written by Latino authors and themes, along with the sale of coffee from Latin America. This little corner on Capitol Avenue became a place where creativity music, reading, art and especially sharing time was celebrated.
Every person who walked through the door was greeted like family. Our mission was to create a third place in the city where people could come in, relax, and talk over a good cup of coffee. We did that and much more.
In 2007, we sold the business to Virginia Iacobucci who continued the same concept of community for 5 years. Unfortunately, on June 25, 2013, she had to close the doors because the property owner did not want to maintain his property up to code and charge an exorbitant amount of rent. The owner of 405 Capitol Avenue refused to negotiate the rent with Virgina, and rented the space to another business owner who presently has several violations with the city of Hartford, paying less per month than what Virginia was paying.
Hartford is left with a property owner and a businessman who do not care to keep the inside nor the outside of the property and business up to par. Unfortunately, this happens far too often in the poorest neighborhoods of our city. We become used to it, accept it as “normal” and accept crappy surroundings. Why here in Frog Hollow?
We deserve more because we are more. We are more than drugs, alcohol, trash on the streets, dilapidated buildings, people smoking weed in front of business and loitering, crappy customer service and products…We deserve more!
Hartford has lost a business that not only attracted a diverse customer base into the city, but it was also concerned about the welfare of the neighborhood. La Paloma Sabanera was an entity where everyone who walked through its doors cared about social change and the improvement of its local and national community.
My message to owner of 405 of Capitol Avenue and the new tenant renting that space: “Be prepared to give us the best because we are not an ignorant community nor will we accept crap.”
Mariana Evica
I was not aware that the new guy has several violations 🙁
Chris
I spoke briefly with the new tenant earlier this week and I have no faith in his regard for our community. He said outright, “This is a bad neighborhood” and backpedaled minimally when I immediately called him out on that.
When I asked about the Capitol Grocery space, he said that the tiny store was remaining open, with a new, breakfast/lunch/internet cafe/hookah lounge (all mentioned during our brief conversation) operating separately in the former La Paloma storefront.
In short, expect more crap.
Mariana Evica
I think I would like to emphasize that the origin of the crap is (I hope, in everyone’s thinking) the fact that a demonstrably irresponsible business owner (and landlord) have created crappy conditions.
Someone else running a restaurant or whatever (especially a place that offered international cuisine) could be awesome.
People are at the heart of every business, and that is why I will miss La Paloma.
Isis
Estoy de acuerdo– gracias por escribir esto. Mi pregunta a tod@s: ¿estamos preparad@s (y cómo) para responder si no nos dan / cuando no nos den lo mejor? Esto, lo que viene, no brega.
Jim C
I am grateful for what the Cotto created on Capitol Ave. and for what Virginia did in keeping it going. I don’t get the economic logic of what is happening at 405 Capitol Avenue. Renting the space for less than La Paloma paid? Really? What’s the landlord’s name? I’d like to hear his side of the story.
Kerri Provost
Jim,
Info about the landlord can be found here:
http://www.realhartford.org/2013/07/08/la-paloma/
Josh LaPorte
I read this in Spanish before I noticed that it was translated below; “porquería” is a better term than crap, more descriptive. One of my tenants remarked that “Hartford is a place of low expectations.” I believe Leticia’s piece above is a rallying cry to expect, no, DEMAND better.
Kerri Provost
To clarify, the Spanish and English were both written by Leticia Cotto, with minimal edits.
Mercedes
Kerri, I agree with Josh. The Spanish term “porqueria” more appropriately expresses the sentiment. “Crap” is a technically acceptable English translation, but it loses something in the translation.
Kerri Provost
Mercedes,
Comments about language choice should be directed at Letty. I did not write the Spanish, nor did I translate this to the English.
-Kerri
Leticia Cotto
Si, porqueria es mejor. I wrote it in spanish first because I felt I could express my sentiments better that way. I agree with Josh, “DEMAND” and for Isis,como prepararnos? Identify the violations the new tennant already has with the city and continue to bring attention to this. Make sure that the owner and the new tennat adhere to all the necessary changes needed to bring the location up to code. Bringing attention to any violations that are noted and assuring that our elected officials put into effect corrective actions based on our blight and quality of life ordinances.
Jennifer
If the landlord isn’t keeping the property up to code, isn’t there any legal recourse?
Kerri Provost
Hartford has an Anti Blight Ordinance