Emmanuel Dieujuste worked at a security guard for five years. As he watched important men in suits walk past him, it wasn’t the rich life that he was dreaming about. Rather, he wanted to start his own health-conscious convenience store reports ctpost.com.
This month, he started doing that at Convenience Grand Grocery. But, he says, his store is going to be different than the ones he grew up with.
“We want to keep the people healthier,” he said.
Dieujuste said he will offer fruit and vegetables and fresh baked goods, as well as the typical convenience store items.
Getting to this moment took years of work, he said.
Dieujuste spent time with business counselors and studying the industry. He and his mother, both Stamford residents, worked with CTE Inc., a nonprofit community action agency, creating and executing a financial plan. They saved enough money through CTE’s Individual Development Account program to build out the store.
So far, Dieujuste said the business is going well in Bridgeport.
“The people have been really nice,” he said.
Photo by jenny downing