A Recipe for Success

Tampopo. FiDO. Chickadee. Nine. Restaurant closings are all too common in the Boston area—even six years after the pandemic.

So it takes a special determination and commitment to actually open a new eatery, especially in the city of Boston proper. A complex permitting process, dense zoning codes, and a finite number of liquor licenses can crush the soul of even the most optimistic restaurateur.

But that didn’t stop sisters Paulette Firmin and Guylene Innocent. They opened Marabou Café in Mattapan Square in August 2025 with a vision—they didn’t want it to be just a grab-and-go establishment for their delicious Haitian cuisine. They set out to create something that’s rare in Mattapan Square: a sit-down restaurant where members of the community could enjoy a meal and socialize, a valuable “third space” in a richly diverse neighborhood where many residents have roots in Haiti and other Caribbean countries.

This October, their efforts were recognized by the Boston Main Street organization, which celebrates businesses in 20 main street districts around the city. Mayor Michelle Wu spoke at a press conference held at the restaurant and celebrated the award.

The business side of the business

Soon after they opened Marabou Café, Firmin and Innocent realized they needed help. Not with the cooking side of the business, of course—the kitchen makes some of Boston’s best acra (taro root that’s been grated and fried)—but the business side of the business.

Luckily, one of the sisters knows Suffolk University trustee Ernst Guerrier, BS ’91, JD ’94. And Guerrier told them about SEED, the Suffolk Entrepreneurship and Educational Development Collaborative, a cross-disciplinary, University-run clinic where Suffolk students work hand-in-hand with small-business owners and entrepreneurs to provide them with the consulting and technical support needed to grow their businesses. Marabou Café is exactly the kind of client SEED strives to help: small, local, and under-served.

Firmin said that when she first came to SEED, she had a dream, a strong belief in her community, and a great deal of determination. What she did not have, however, was the structure to turn that dream into a sustainable business. SEED students helped her build that structure.

With the guidance of Professor Ken Mooney, the four-member SEED team—Marian O’Brien, BSBA ’14, MBA ’26; Nyasha Mukwata, MS ’26; Mahek Abrol, BSBA ’26; and Aline Silva, Class of 2027—visited the restaurant several times, consulting closely with Firmin, and came back to her with a plan. Recommendations included marketing ideas, financial strategy, legal recommendations, and operational expansion guidance—think outdoor-dining permits and liquor licenses. (Marabou was, in fact, awarded a liquor license by the city in the summer of 2026, one of 225 new licenses approved the year before.)

“Understanding the café’s goals and vision—which was to create this community gathering place and have delicious food—prompted the different recommendations our SEED team provided them,” said O’Brien. “It was a great experience for us. I’m so happy and proud of them.”

In her remarks at the mayor’s press conference, Firmin thanked members of her family, the city of Boston, and SEED.

“You helped to shape a dream into a plan and a plan into a business,” Firmin said. “My words are not enough to say thank you, but please know that your belief and your teaching are part of every meal we serve.”