Mary Button and Erica Zito had very different business backgrounds — hair styling and marketing — but shared a dream of opening their own coffee shop. They both envisioned themselves as self-employed and began saving their own earnings to make their dreams into reality. When they were ready to combine their savings with a start-up business loan, the enthusiastic partners soon realized banks were hesitant to lend to start-ups, despite their savvy business plan and the perfect location to complement their proposal.

FINANTA approved Button and Zito’s loan to open their first Cafe in the center of Fishtown’s business corridor on Frankford Avenue. Many residents agree the shop has been a great addition to the neighborhood, as the storefront previously sat empty while the landlord held out for a coffee shop for nearly three years. And now, just 6 months after opening, the business has been rated among the top 20 coffee shops in the City — we can’t wait to see how they grow!