Hi. Spring will soon be upon us and warmer weather, outdoor tables and lots of public space lounging. Before we get to that, we still have March with us. Let’s celebrate a lesser discussed part of the month: badass women entrepreneurs and local business owners.

Quick PSA before continuing: I am extremely proud to add the cities of Trenton and Atlantic City to the Storefront Mastery roster, and happy to report that I finished the design guidelines project for Downtown Panama City, Florida. It turned out a beautiful document that you can see here.

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I come from a family of women entrepreneurs. My mum has founded not one nor two but three successful travel agencies during her professional life. Still works in her last one. My aunts founded what I believe is the best bookstore in town, and have created a wonderful community hub for book and culture lovers.

When my wife and I came to this country six years ago I had no idea I would start Storefront Mastery. Besides architecture and design, I had a ton of experience working with Economic Development plans and local marketing projects that involved small businesses but the Eureka moment came later.

There is nothing but gratitude for that Eureka moment that has allowed me to help downtowns be even more awesome, which I love, and for the support I’ve had from my wife and from downtown and main street leaders all over.

On to the point: we are celebrating women this month, but I would like to shine a special light over the most creative, hard-working, visionary and innovative, and also the most humble of all my clients. Coincidentally, or not, they have all been immigrant women.

Today I celebrate their strength, their vision, their sacrifices -I can attest that leaving one’s safety net is not easy, nor safe- and their will to work, grow, and reach the American Dream.

It does exist, by the way. For which I am eternally grateful. So raise your cups, mugs or glasses to say a huge Thank You to those women entrepreneurs that make our towns awesome and our streets beautiful.

Norma, Edna, Lucila, Berekti, Yolanda. You make us proud.

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The Vertical Sidewalk

In celebration and gratitude