MELINA PAGAN, owner of the Providence-based Rebelle Artisan Bagel, recently received the New England Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Ernst & Young Global Ltd. The award honors business professionals who deliver innovation, growth and prosperity for their business.
What was your reaction to being selected as the recipient of this year’s New England Entrepreneur of the Year Award? I was surprised and elated. Going into it, I did not think I fit the mold. I saw most of the prior recipients were older men, mostly white, and certainly not restaurant industry people. But I was surprised. As a restaurateur making ends meet during a pandemic that has completely wiped out my industry, I feel humbled to be recognized for our work and I am proud to be drawing attention to our cause.
What inspired you to quit your corporate job and open your business? I was inspired to quit my job after several attempts to move up the corporate ladder did not work out for me. I have always been super ambitious, driven and full of energy, so I was ready for more challenges way before I was due by corporate standards. I decided to follow my instinct and left my job the day before my 27th birthday, with no solid plan for what was next. I just knew I was smart and motivated enough to figure out a plan for survival. I had been learning how to make bagels at home, and after I polished my recipe and got encouragement from my friends, I decided that was the next move.
What challenges have you faced personally and professionally with your business during the pandemic? Running a business during a pandemic, especially a restaurant, involves having many, many side hustles. We do home delivery on weekends; we have pivoted to online-only ordering; and we are starting a bodega anchored by our pandemic grocery bags. Having the mental and physical energy to execute everything to the highest standard expected by our clientele is really challenging. On a personal note, I see the same challenges as most people: activities that used to be fun don’t feel safe or don’t exist anymore; the political turmoil is super stressful; I miss seeing my friends and people I love. I certainly miss chatting it up over breakfast with many of our Rebelle regulars.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future with your business? My goal is to complete the pandemic pivot to bagel shop and bodega, with a shoppable assortment of fresh produce, dairy, eggs and meats. My intuition is that the bodega will make great use of our former seating space without making the shop feel empty, and it will turn our neighborhood from a food desert to a food oasis. I think the convenience will drive more visits from our customers and recreate that bumping-into-your-neighbors community feel from our old Rebelle. Beyond that, I am starting up our sister restaurant, aptly named Little Sister. I am excited to add another gem to our neighborhood and to be bringing together the flavors of my native Puerto Rico with the New England bounty.
