City officials and local business leaders were on hand Tuesday for the opening of a new woman-owned independent small business in Fair Haven, where major neighborhood improvements are planned.
Evelyn Jimenez is the owner of J&M Home Appliance, at 302 Grand Ave., in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven. J&M will sell and service home appliances.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker touted this shop as one of only a few independently owned appliance stores in the Elm City.
After coming to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic five years ago, Jimenez founded J&M Home Appliance first in New Jersey, then moved to Philadelphia two years later before opening her second store in Fair Haven.
Elicker’s team said Grand Avenue is one the Elm City’s most diverse, busiest and fastest-growing commercial and residential thoroughfares, with more than 130 active businesses.
The area is the focus of an upcoming $7.5 million investment of city, state and federal funds toward the “Grander Grand Avenue” initiative that includes several new affordable housing developments in the area.
The Grander Grand Avenue initiative includes new roadway and infrastructure improvements, streetscape and beautification enhancements, a public plaza for community gatherings and events, marketing and business development, and other placemaking efforts to support the continued growth of this key corridor and the Fair Haven neighborhood.
