Local Entrepreneurs Open Small Businesses With Heart and Hustle in Worcester, MA

Jaden Marc

Worcester is actively cultivating an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship flourish, and this resonates strongly with new and small-business owners in the region. Worcester’s deliberate investment in resources like professional services, networking opportunities and mentorship programs is proving invaluable for getting ventures off the ground and thriving. 

Sneaker Sapphire 

Jaden Marc, the 21-year-old entrepreneur behind Sneaker Sapphire, first sold shoes as a side hustle in high school. 

After years of watching, learning and “winging it,” Marc opened his West Boylston store in 2023. The store also features bags, accessories and streetwear, with a resale option to sell and trade. 

Marc came to Worcester to attend Quinsigamond Community College and has found the region to be embracing of young, minority-owned businesses and an ideal location. 

“Worcester’s a good location in general, just an hour from Boston. Our location, specifically, is right off the highway. You can be anywhere in Worcester and get to us in 10 to 15 minutes,” Marc says. 

The business relies heavily on its social media presence, but Marc is adamant about getting to know his customers. “When people come into the store, we really aim to have a conversation with them, get to know them and build that bond,” Marc says. “And we’re all super knowledgeable about sneakers, too, so people will know they’re getting the right stuff at the right price.” 

El Sombrero Taqueria 

El Sombrero Taqueria is a family-owned business serving Mexican cuisine. Lupe Rodriguez is a co-owner and works alongside six brothers, two sisters and extended family between two locations. 

Their first restaurant, in the food court of Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough, opened in 2022. A few years later, the second location opened in Kelley Square in Worcester. Both restaurants serve a selection of street tacos, burritos, nachos and sides. 

There’s a shared pride in the quality behind the El Sombrero name. 

“What sets us apart from other Mexican restaurants is the authenticity that we have,” Rodriguez says. “Everything is nice and fresh, made on-site. We don’t have frozen meat, and we serve 100% skirt steak.” 

Rodriguez credits a passion for the work, determined staff and a sizable business grant from the City of Worcester for their accomplishments – not to mention their family’s inspiring history. 

“We are a food family,” Rodriguez says. “My great-grandmother served the Pancho Villa troops as an adelita. My grandmother was a restaurant worker in Mexico City, and my mom is a great cook. My brother, Jorge, created the menu and is our chef.” 

A Better Path to Wellness 

Before launching A Better Path to Wellness, Kellie Hamilton was studying plant-based nutrition, helping family and friends, and posting “fun facts” about wellness on her Facebook page – all while working as an ICU nurse. 

Now, as a certified holistic nutritionist, Hamilton offers her services through individual sessions, public speaking engagements and workshops. 

When asked about the “better path,” Hamilton has this to say: “It’s more about minimizing your risk, focusing on the addition of whole forms of food into your diet, and really trying to set yourself up for success the best that you can.” 

For Hamilton, optimal health requires an approach from all angles, so she also teams up with local practitioners and physicians. 

“I’ve made so many friends and colleagues,” she says. “I also joined the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. So, I just can’t imagine leaving and starting over because I’ve deeply made roots here.” 

With over a decade of experience in nursing, Hamilton sees all of her skills as an asset for her growing business. 

“People like the fact that I’m a local practicing bedside nurse. I think that gives me a lot of credibility,” Hamilton says.