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He started washing dishes in New Jersey, now he and his wife run seven Cuban restaurants
- Alan and Nairelys López are a Cuban couple who transformed humble beginnings in New Jersey into a successful family-owned restaurant chain named Rumba Cubana, which now totals seven locations.
- After consolidating six restaurants in the northern part of the country, the couple acquired a property in Palm Springs to open their first venue in Florida.
- Their gastronomic proposal offers traditional recipes like roasted pork, shredded beef and creative mixology designed to connect with the Latino community.
From starting out washing dishes in New Jersey to leading a restaurant chain
The American dream takes on an unforgettable flavor with the story of Alan López and his wife Nairelys López, a Cuban entrepreneurial couple that managed to build a true restaurant empire after taking their first working steps from the bottom in the northern United States. They both grew up in a small Cuban town and shared a teenage romance before their paths separated, reuniting years later in New Jersey after immigrating separately in 2001 and accidentally running into each other at a party.
While Alan kicked off his career in the gastronomic sector washing dishes and Nairelys studied accounting at Kean University, the pair joined forces in 2004 to open Rumba Cafe in Jersey City, laying the groundwork for what would become the first full-service Rumba Cubana location in 2009. Through grueling shifts, high stress and the backing of a team primarily made of family members, they managed to scale their brand across Passaic, Hudson, and Bergen counties until establishing six active spots and planning an upcoming opening in Teaneck.
An intelligent real estate strategy to conquer the Florida market
Far from depending on shifting lease agreements that typically threaten the gastronomy industry, this Cuban couple applied a brilliant business vision by directly purchasing the commercial real estate where their businesses operate, thereby shielding their restaurant empire against constant hikes in commercial rents. Likewise, following that same financial philosophy, they bought a venue at 3208 Forest Hill Boulevard in Palm Springs during the spring of 2025, dedicating over a full year to its complete renovation prior to launching their seventh establishment and their first one inside Florida.
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Furthermore, before selecting this municipality within Palm Beach County, Alan and Nairelys evaluated several areas until confirming that accessibility, ample parking and close proximity to a numerous Cuban and Latino community offered the ideal setting to put down roots. Consequently, the arrival of Rumba Cubana in southern Florida represents not only strategic corporate growth, but also a genuine desire to share their cultural traditions across a region where Caribbean customs pulse with force.
Traditional recipes, affordable prices and signature mixology with identity
Similarly, the culinary offering of this new restaurant in Florida wins over palates thanks to authentic recipes where standout iconic dishes include shredded beef, fried beef, steak, ham croquettes, imperial rice, and a roasted pork marinated for twenty-four hours in sour orange. With nearly the entire menu priced below twenty-five dollars alongside fresh desserts like flan, three-milk cake and churros, Rumba Cubana draws in entire families alongside lovers of good food and gastronomy seeking authenticity without breaking the bank.
Additionally, the bar features the talent of Loiver Hernández Crespo, former team member of Miami’s renowned Café La Trova, who elevates the experience with original creations like the Arrow Old Fashioned served inside a traditional slingshot, and Sound of the Hill, presented within a guitar-shaped structure playing music. While Nairelys personally oversees every single detail of decor and tableware and Alan guarantees kitchen quality, this restaurant empire proves how passion and hard work transform any humble beginning into a resounding success straight from New Jersey to Florida.
