Sunshine and Success: small business owners make it in Miami

Miami, a city renowned for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches, and a bustling economy, is also a melting pot of entrepreneurial spirit. We spoke with 5 Miami-based small business stars, who came here from different countries - each with their unique story of dreams, challenges, and triumphs. From the sun-kissed streets of Little Havana to the bustling corridors of Downtown, these entrepreneurs are redefining the business landscape of Miami, one venture at a time.

Oxygen is committed to supporting small business owners at all stages, from the very start to prosperity. Learn more about our all-in-one mobile banking platform built for first-time entrepreneurs.

Sky Coffee Buenos Aires

Rosana Bentos, founder & owner 

“Twenty years ago, while living in Argentina, I dreamt of becoming a flight attendant. Unable to enroll in flying school, I still nurtured my love for airplanes and decided to open a coffee shop with an airplane theme. I discovered an airplane in a small town, Leesburg, near Orlando, but it was beyond my budget. The only asset I had was my house, so I sold it and bought that airplane. When I shared this news with my friends, they got excited and offered to help.

Our coffee shop is located inside a retired McDonnell Douglas MD-88 series aircraft, which served passengers until 2019. We offer unique specials, like the “Tierra del Fuego” cappuccino, a tribute to the Argentine town of Carolina’s gold rush. I've been living in Miami for 23 years, I love this city and I know it always needs something distinct, something different. We just opened 1 month ago, and it's the first coffee-shop of a kind in Florida.” @skycoffeebuenosaires

‘Of Course I still Love You’ Ceramics

Cristina Hermida and Adam Doak, founders & owners

“I’m a second-generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic. My partner, Adam, and I started pottery as a hobby during the pandemic, which we continued after moving into our current property, where we live now.  We decided to open up a small studio as a side business, since we both had full-time jobs at the time. We both worked remotely in tech: I was in marketing, and Adam was a UX/UI and app designer. However, in 2021, we decided to quit our jobs and fully dedicate ourselves to being studio owners, as our studio had grown very popular. One of our most popular classes  is “Pottery and Jazz” - folks create pottery pieces while listening to jazz music. 

Miami is really booming right now - there are a lot of different fast-growing communities and industries. There's a lot of people moving down here and creating their own, new ecosystem in Miami. It's great to have those people coming to our studio.  There's a lot of local artists and there's not that many pottery studios, as there are more other ceramic-centric cities. We're one of maybe 6 or 7 studios, and it's great to be growing with the city. Come play with clay!” @ocislyceramics 

Chuchos Grill 

Annabel and Chucho, founders & owners

"My name is Annabel, and my husband's name is Chucho. We have been living in Miami for about 10 years, having immigrated from Venezuela. We opened our food truck nearly two years ago. Initially, Chucho had to take on various jobs, including washing cars, but he always held onto his vision. He had been dreaming of this business adventure for years and poured his heart and soul into making it a reality.

In our food truck, we prepare traditional Venezuelan cuisine: grilled chicken, grilled steak, patacones, black beans, juicy shredded beef, sweet plantains, and pitas. Miami's diversity is what makes it truly special, especially in terms of food. Here, we find people from various countries, including Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Brazil." @chuchos.grill 

La Colada Gourmet 

Ernesto Borges, founder and owner

“La Colada Gourmet is a house of authentic cuban coffee, it's a family-owned business founded in 2016 in Little Havana, Miami, the heart of Calle 8. Inspired by our roots we aimed at creating a spot with authentic 'sabor cubano'. At this place we offer an extraordinary coffee experience: you can enjoy more than 20 coffee recipes which identify our Cuban and Latin culture. Infused with a blend of liquors, creams, spices, and various dairy products, each cup promises a rich and nuanced taste. The beans come from the hands of small producers, who depend on this crop to sustain themselves and their families.

At La Colada Gourmet we also try to create a special cultural experience for our customers - so that they have a chance to delve deeper into the  Cuban vibes. There's an abundance of Cuban artifacts around the coffee shop: postcards, pictures, a cupboard with cute cups and saucers, vintage coffee makers. And the Cuban music in the background.”  @lacoladagourmet

Aca & Fruits Bar

Julian Gutierrez, founder & owner 

“I'm originally from Colombia and have been living in Florida for five years. Upon moving to the US, I immediately started my own business. Today, I run two spots in Miami - one at Key Biscayne and the other in Brickell, right in the heart of the city. People in Miami, including both residents and tourists, are very focused on healthy lifestyles. It's warm and sunny here, and there's a big emphasis on sports and healthy beverages like smoothies and fresh juices.

In Brickell, particularly, folks are engaged in outdoor activities and training, and our products meet their expectations perfectly. Our two locations have become popular spots for people to relax and refuel after their workouts or during a busy day. We're proud to be part of the vibrant, health-conscious culture of Miami, bringing a taste of Colombia with a Floridian twist to our customers.” @acaifruitsmiami