KISSIMMEE, Fla. — On Wednesday, a Puerto Rican couple opened their seventh restaurant, their first stateside, amid the pandemic.
What You Need To Know
- FL Bakery opened in Kissimmee
- Owners say dealing with Hurricane Maria has prepared them for pandemic
Kiara Delgado said challenges she and her husband, Rafael Roman, faced to keep their bakeries in Puerto Rico afloat after Hurricane Maria helped them prepare to manage their Kissimmee restaurant, FL Bakery, during the global crisis.
The owner says she never doubted they would open today, July 15. It’s the second time they faced a challenge. They struggled but succeeded to keep their 6 other bakeries open after #HurricaneMaria @MyNews13 https://t.co/u8ImzNBBWt pic.twitter.com/gNgeuOF2yS
— Jesse Canales (@jescanal) July 15, 2020
They say their Director of Operations Leo Gonzalez keeps the six Puerto Rican bakeries, Panaderias Rafael Roman, functioning.
The U.S. territory has some of the strictest COVID guidelines in place including a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and a negative coronavirus test result taken three days before flying to the island.
FL Bakery opened its doors for the first time to a line of hungry customers. It’s the owners 7th restaurant and first stateside, the other 6 are in Puerto Rico. @MyNews13 #News13Osceola pic.twitter.com/ppfL5JrhYV
— Jesse Canales (@jescanal) July 15, 2020
Delgado said she knows it will be difficult to keep all seven business afloat but it is a risk she and her husband are willing to take.
“We want to give the opportunity to people like they’ve given to us,” Delgado said.
They plan on hiring 25 people for their new bakery located in the La Mirada shopping plaza on 3425 West Vine St.
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