When Juan Carlos Romano renovated his grocery, it became a lifeline for residents of the Juniata Park neighborhood.

Romano worked hard to create a store that bettered his community. Gigantic, brilliant green avocados and delicious mangos now rest in brown wicker baskets. Customers from K & Luzerne Streets, formerly without any local access to fresh produce, buy it all.

Since he re-opened his renovated store in 2008 with the assistance of Entrepreneur Works and other community lenders specializing in small businesses, Romano’s business has been thriving.

Says Romano, “What Entrepreneur Works is doing is really good, and there are a whole bunch of people out there who need help.”