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Karl Sherin
I was walking around town late at night. We had just finished a Lewiston City Council meeting early in the evening and wanted some fresh air, some exercise, and a clearer head.
I crossed the bridge over the canal, passed Bates Mill 5, and was round the corner on Canal Street. The car honks and stops. It’s Boba’s Zach Pratt, with the biggest smile on his face.
Zach is full of energy and relatable. He opens the window and wants to know how I was. Parked in the middle of the street and we talk all business. Staffing, customers, locations, menus. I’ve touched almost every chapter in the Business 101 textbook. We probably should be sleeping, but instead working on an impromptu business summit.
And what exactly is he doing at this late hour? Zac is transporting the next day’s food inventory from the distributor to the restaurants on Lisbon Street. Entrepreneurs do what it takes to run a successful business.
A few months later, I was standing on Pine Street in the shadow of the cathedral. Arrived at Happy Little Paradise for ribbon cutting. This new childcare cooperative was started by Angolan immigrants Jafke Carporteiro, Palmira Diaz, Luisa Diaz and Maria Baltazar. Joy and excitement were evident on the faces of these childcare entrepreneurs.
At most ribbon cuts, you get to tour and talk with the manager or owner to get a sense of the day’s business, and with Happy Little Paradise it was a little different. Cynthia Murphy and Azenaide Pedro, who worked at Coastal Enterprises (the company that hosted her childcare lab that helped grow this new business), spoke to me often in the months leading up to its opening. was
Frustrated with the cost and state paperwork of the sprinkler system required. CEI and entrepreneurs tackled challenges one by one and persevered. With the commitment of all involved, buildings have been renovated, new businesses established, and more childcare capacity created in Lewiston.
Our city needs entrepreneurs like Hafke, Palmyra, Luisa and Maria who find ways to overcome obstacles.
I stopped by to see Courtney Schlachter at Quiet City Books last Saturday. At the recent City Council, I recognized Courtney as Lewiston’s leader. She loves books, she loves Lewiston, and over the years has been doing what it takes to start businesses, move places, and survive through pandemics. We deserved the Lewiston Challenge Coin for making sure Lewiston had a bookstore in our commercial environment.
I walk down the stairs, ask her how she’s doing, ask what’s new. Later in the afternoon, I found out she was hosting a book signing with a local children’s book author, and when she stopped by later, the store was bustling with children and parents, with the author at a table in the back. was Accompanying the author was the illustrator and granddaughter who was the inspiration for the story.
I left with a signed copy of “The Julia and Nan Birthday Hotel”. As I write this, I am grateful to entrepreneurs like Courtney for their patient faith in Lewiston.
We need to celebrate the success of Lewiston entrepreneurs and encourage and help more people innovate and start businesses. When entrepreneurs like Abdirahman Saeed and Abdinur Mohamed of Black Diamond Detailing and Corey DuFour and Angie Lafrance of Obscura choose Lewiston as where they want to start their business, we grow as a community.
The people of Lewiston define our city and we are known for our gritty, can-do attitude. We do it with tenacity, creativity and ingenuity to create a better and thriving community for all.
That’s the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Lewiston forward.
Carl Sheline is the mayor of Lewiston.
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