Our Story: From a Dream to Marshmallow Candy & Coffee

Marshmallow Candy & Coffee was born in Vieques, Puerto Rico, in 2015, long before there was a physical store. It all started as an idea, a dream, and the desire to create something special for our community.

At that time, my daughter, Chanel A., was about five years old, and I was a single mother. She was a very important part of my inspiration. In Vieques, I felt there was a lack of a different kind of space, a welcoming place designed for children and families. I wanted to create something where my daughter could feel part of the story and, at the same time, build a future for us.

When I started, I knew practically nothing about business. I just had an idea and a strong desire to learn. I began working on a business plan, asking questions of people who already had experience as entrepreneurs and seeking guidance wherever I could find it. In that process, I discovered the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where I was able to begin giving structure and direction to what, until then, had only been a dream.

The road wasn't easy. There were some very difficult times. I had rent arrears and times when I even worried about not having enough money for basic necessities, like buying diapers for my daughter. Even so, I persevered. I kept improving my business plan, learning, and preparing proposals for organizations and companies that support small businesses.

Several years of effort, obstacles, and perseverance passed until finally, in 2019, Marshmallow Candy & Coffee was able to open its doors.

Since then, the story has continued to grow. My life has also changed. God restored many areas of my life; I got married, another beautiful daughter joined our family, and I continued my professional development, eventually completing a Master of Business Administration.

Today, Marshmallow Candy & Coffee continues operating in Vieques with the same heart with which it began: creating special moments, serving with love, and offering a unique experience to our community and our visitors.

Challenges still exist, and many dreams remain to be fulfilled, but we move forward with faith, gratitude, and determination.

Marshmallow Candy & Coffee wasn't born from having everything figured out. It was born from an idea, from a mother who decided to keep trying, from perseverance in difficult times, and from the faith that something small could become something beautiful.

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And this story is still being written.