Tenant Spotlight: Aloe Natural Cafe
What began as a small plant shop to support one's way through college has turned into a blossoming businesses that just expanded into East Boston.
Tanairi Garcia has always wanted to be a successful businesswoman. At the age of 26, she moved to Puerto Rico to live off the grid and on a farm. There, she raised cows, horses, chickens, and grew her own food, all while pursuing a bachelor’s degree. As an extra way to help support herself, she began selling plants and opened up her own plant store that she called “Aloe Natural.”
The store was a successful small business, until Hurricane Maria came and destroyed her greenhouse. “I had to reinvent myself,” says Tanairi, and made the decision to change Aloe Natural from a plant shop to a coffee shop. She continued the operation for about two years until earthquakes swept Puerto Rico and she made the decision to return to Chelsea.
Tanairi worked for a non-profit for some time upon returning home, but missed running her own business. “My kids didn’t have healthy options. Chelsea didn’t have healthy options,” she says, “it needed something affordable and accessible.” Tanairi set out to create an “oasis” within the city. “I’ve lived on a farm and nature cures, that’s what I created in Chelsea.” When you walk into Aloe Natural, you will “think and feel like you’re in the Caribbean,” says Tanairi.
It began as a small operation, with just Tanairi and her daughter working at the cafe, but as they found success they brought on additional staff members - all from the East Boston and Chelsea area.
When it came time to add food to the menu, the very first item was the veggie wrap. “I love sweet plantains and I love avocados,” says Tanairi, who also was a vegan at the time so wanted a menu item that would “fill [her] up like meat and taste good.”
As the shop did well with its vegan options, some customers asked about adding chicken or tuna into dishes, to which Tanairi said “alright!” Taking feedback and suggestions from customers has always been a theme for Tanairi. One smoothie on the menu was created because of a customer who always came in with the same order – strawberry, banana, and coconut – and Tanairi decided to make it a permanent addition and even gave the customer the ability to name the drink. It was dubbed the “Glamour Lady” because of her interest in fashion.
Another smoothie, the Palominito, was named after Tanairi’s favorite island in Puerto Rico. “It’s a nostalgia thing,” she says, “because I lived in Puerto Rico for eight years and I was able to cultivate nature through my menu.”
One of Tanairi’s favorite menu items to eat is the avocado toast. It is a caprese avocado toast, complete with fresh tomatoes and cheese. “We squash the avocados the moment it’s ordered ... so you know it’s fresh,” she says.
Aloe Natural was not necessarily planning on expanding to a second location, but when Tanairi was offered the opportunity at the shipyard, she saw the potential and right away discovered a strong sense of community. “It feels like family, I don’t feel awkward, I can ask for help,” she says, and is passionate about building connections with the customers here and providing nourishing food.
"I want to know my customers by their names," she says, "I want to feed them correctly so they can teach their kids that our bodies are our temples." And not only is the food good for you, it is delicious to enjoy. "You will not find acai that tastes better than this anywhere in Massachusetts!"
Aloe Natural Cafe plans to open in July of 2024. Stop in and enjoy Tanairi's delicious creations next time you are in the shipyard. To learn more and browse their menu, visit their website.