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For Chilacates, having a partner that understands family business and shares their passion for success made all the difference.
Carmenelly Abreu and her family have always loved to cook. Whenever they get together to catch up and share a laugh, it’s always over a meal. So, it was no surprise she and her two sisters decided to open up a restaurant where their family could work together turning their passion for food into a business. Today, Chilacates restaurants are a true, family business success story.
When Chilacates was ready to purchase a manufacturing space to streamline their restaurant business, they needed more than just a bank.
“We had an opportunity to buy a building where we could prepare all the scratch made products for our restaurants in one location. We started to look around for a loan, but we didn’t want to go to a big bank,” Carmenelly said. “We had some experience with a large bank before and we didn’t feel comfortable with them. It was so impersonal. They didn’t see the human side; they just wanted to look at the numbers. We wanted to talk to someone who would understand a family business.”
A partner who listens and understands family business.
We actually have a business consultant we work with and they had nothing but good things to say about Northern Bank,” Carmenelly continued. “We met, Rosanna, at the branch, and we felt very comfortable with her and with the bank. We liked how Northern Bank operates, how they have helped other small businesses like ours grow. We knew they would give an opportunity to a small business.”
“No one else took the time to sit down at a table and hear what we had to say,” Carmenelly explained. “We’ve had no other experience with a bank that wanted to really hear us and help us. Northern Bank was different. They made us feel like family.”
As Chilacates continues to expand, Northern Bank will be right by their side.
Right now, we’re going to continue to build out our commissary kitchen,” Carmenelly said. “That will help us grow our multiple locations, because we’ll have the space to prepare sauces and meats for new locations. We’re looking at other opportunities to grow out of state and at other locations, and we know we’ll be working with Northern Bank as we continue to grow. We want Northern Bank to continue to believe in our creative, ‘crazy’ ideas.”
Chilacates is a family business in every sense of the word, with close to 20 family members currently working in their 11 quick service Mexican street food restaurant locations, in and around Boston. Carmenelly and her sisters wouldn’t have it any other way. Family clearly comes first, but food is a close second.
After 14 years of teaching at Puddle Duck Day School, Brittany Lupo had the opportunity to take over as owner. With her business degree and deep passion for education, she just needed a partner who understands small businesses and the best financing options available to make ownership a reality.
When a 25-year-old entrepreneur walked across the street from his auto repair shop to make daily deposits, he had no idea he was beginning a partnership that would span four decades. Jim Welch's journey from accounting student to successful automotive business owner illustrates how the right banking relationship becomes more than financial support. It becomes the foundation for sustained growth, unwavering trust, and generational success.
When his town's independent bookstore closed, Paul Swydan connected his entrepreneurial roots with his media background to create something new. Within just ten months, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore opened its doors—transforming both Paul's career path and his community's access to literature.
Contact us now to learn more about how Northern Bank can help you realize your goals and dreams.