June 20: Entrepreneur Networking and Business Expo

By: Lucy Zhou

The Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem (CADCB) hosted a networking event at Northampton Community College Fowler SouthSide Center. We wanted to attend to talk to and learn more about more businesses started by entrepreneurs in the area. The expo would also give us an opportunity to introduce ourselves and our project to create business relationships and obtain more insight for our blog and survey. Admission was free, but we did have to sign up in advance. There was food provided by some of the businesses, and appetizers were available for all to enjoy.

We first encountered Hilda Vinces, owner of Nazca K-Fé, which is a premium peruvian coffee business in South Bethlehem. She told us she started the business with her family. As Peruvians, they wanted to sell coffee of high quality from a place that was known for the best coffee. They started the business five years ago, and it has become very successful. Vinces said Nazca K-Fé doesn’t have a location, but people can order coffee online through the website. The coffee has a rich aroma and taste that is not very bitter. We were lucky to be able to try some, even though it was 7 p.m., and the caffeine could potentially keep us up all night. Vinces was clearly passionate about the coffee and her business, and she urged us to visit Peru, emphasizing its beauty and attractions. Her table was busy and popular, which was unsurprising for her product.


The next business we visited was Wrap’d Tight and Tiger Lily Affairs. Wrap’d Tight, owned by Heather Griffith, sells gourmet wraps and salads. Catering, pick-up and delivery options are offered. Griffith said everything is made fresh and when ordered to ensure customers are receiving quality service and food. Her business used to be in Southside Bethlehem, but two years ago, she had to close down because the building got torn down for a new project. She was luckily able to find a new location about six months ago on the Northside, but its location is not as accessible or noticeable for new customers. Though it’s on a busy and main street, Wrap’d Tight is tucked away so there is not as much exposure. Griffith said she used to love seeing Lehigh students come in, and she became like family to them. She would watch them grow up and feel emotional as if she were their mother. Location and a steady stream of customers are factors that Griffith misses from the South Side, but her business is still doing well, especially in collaboration with Tiger Lily Affairs and her business partner Marie Watkins.

Tiger Lily Affairs offers a catering hall that seats 50 to 60 people for big events such as graduations, birthday parties and more. With the gourmet food and menu from Wrap’d Tight, Tiger Lily Affairs can then provide the space for the catering, making both businesses more valuable by reaching a wider audience. Griffith and Watkins are also close friends, and they have been friends for more than 20 years, so their bond only strengthens their business partnership. Watkins said they both have big families, and they often have their children help out from time to time. Griffith even said she charges her children for food to support their business. As African-American women, they don’t feel excluded or underrepresented in their line of business because they know that there will always be struggles and obstacles, but they don’t feel like there will be anything that they can’t overcome. They are also accepting themselves because their families are African-American, and some members are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. They believe Southside especially is inclusive and welcoming.

It was nice being able to talk with the two ladies and learning more about their friendship and businesses. When they found out we were Lehigh students, their faces immediately lit up because of the relationships they developed from having Wrap’d Tight in the South Side. They encouraged us to order food and visit the new location. We definitely hope to eat there and see them again in the future!

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