Latinx and Hispanic culture and the community’s impact and contributions made to American society are celebrated each year, with Hispanic Heritage month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 18. This month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of multiple Latin American nations. The community comes together to reflect on Latinx and Hispanic stories that have inspired and shaped the nation and enriched communities across the country.
Entrepreneurs from Greater Gainesville’s Latinx and Hispanic communities share their stories, cultures and pride:
Resident Coffee Roasters
Resident Coffee Roasters established roots in Gainesville in October 2020 and has steadily grown visibility, gaining national and global exposure. Meet the two minds behind the operation, Gabe Chavez and Noe Lopez.
Chavez found appreciation in coffee years ago as an elementary school teacher, where he found himself spending hours at Volta Coffee shop hunched over a cup of joe grading papers. While the passion for roasting and all things coffee presented itself later in his life, Chavez expressed how ubiquitous the hot beverage had been in his own culture and that of so many others.
“Coffee is culturally a tradition in nearly every Hispanic household” Chavez said.
Chavez met Lopez at a Latte Art Throwdown hosted by Karma Cream, and the two went from friendly competition to partners. They shared an endeavor toward a coffee roaster that embodied their shared passion for the bean itself and each individual involved to produce it, from the farmer leading all the way to the barista on the other side of the counter.
“The big-picture mission that we have is to highlight incredible coffees and the remarkable people behind them,” Chavez said.
The name “Resident” is equally as thoughtful as the care put into producing the product, and it reflects the journey that both Chavez and Lopez’s family faced as they built lives here in the United States. Chavez, born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Lopez, a first-generation Mexican-American, pay homage to their culture and family descent through Resident Coffee Roasters.
“The process of going from a tourist visa to residency and from residency to citizenship was a long, arduous process, but one that was incredibly rewarding,” Chavez said. “A resident is someone who belongs, and that is exactly the way we want people to feel when they enjoy our coffee.”
Find Resident Coffee for purchase at Wyatt’s Coffee, Superette, Pascal’s Coffee, Uppercrust, Unique Notions, Life Unplastic and of course, online at resident.coffee/shopcoffee.
Kristen Rabell of Rabell Realty Group
Gainesville native Kristen Rabell is first generation Cuban-American and a fourth-generation broker. Rabell is one half of the real estate duo that makes up Rabell Realty Group. She discovered a passion for real estate early on in her career, and her family’s history really solidified her path as an agent and broker.
“I fell in love immediately, and it’s in my blood, clearly,” Rabell said.
Rabell’s grandparents both played major roles in Gainesville’s Hispanic community. Rabell’s grandmother, a teacher, and grandfather, a real estate agent, were both major advocates for their Spanish-speaking community. They were a shining example of what Rabell wanted out of her career. Rabell expressed the joy she witnessed from her grandfather, Paco Rabell, each time he sold a property, and how integral his role was in bridging the gap between Spanish-speaking buyers and real estate.
Rabell and her business partner, Rebecca Johnson, bought their office in 2006, where Rabell Real Estate Group currently resides. The two refer to the charming little space as, “the cutest corner in Haile.” The two thrive as one of the most prominent real estate groups in Gainesville, spanning outwards to Ocala, Tampa and St. Augustine.
Rabell expressed the importance of staying in touch with her family’s story and culture as the years go on.
“Each time a family member passes away, a little bit of the Cuban in me goes with them, unless I make sure that I stay a part of Cuba and a part of my history,” she said.
To contact Rabell and her real estate team, visit buysellrabell.com.
By Madison Rae