MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - The largest Hispanic-owned retail store in the country is celebrating its 50th year.
Manolo Capó opened the first El Dorado furniture store in 1966, naming it after the boat he traveled on from Cuba. Now his sons run the store, remembering their father by continuing what he started.
“I see the customers shopping in our store, something that my father built many years ago,” said El Dorado chief marketing officer Roberto Capó. “He had a dream, and now the customers come in, making us part of their home. That’s amazing!”
When Manolo arrived in the U.S. from Cuba, he took out a $10,000 loan and started making furniture.
“It all started about 50 years ago when my father decided to leave the island of Cuba on a little boat with two of my brothers,” Roberto said. “I look back and, wow, it’s come a long way.”
A long way from the first store in Little Havana; now there are 14 El Dorado stores in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Lee counties. “This one little store on Southwest Eighth Street in Little Havana, today it’s 14 stores,” Roberto said. “One thousand employees. It’s growing number every day, and we feel so proud about it.”
The company recognizes its history with pictures from their past, including numerous times they’ve given back to the community. “We’re always part of the community, particularly for our 50th anniversary. We are working on some amazing ideas,” Roberto said. “We want to give back to the community as we always do but we want to do down thing special. So some really cool things are coming up.”
The company has donated millions of dollars to people in the community.
After 50 years, the Capó family is looking forward to another 50 years of El Dorado stores. “It’s not just the 50 years we are looking back on. There are also 50 years ahead,” Roberto said. “We are actually planning and seeing the 50 years ahead. If it’s been like this for the first 50 years, we can’t wait to see the next 50. That’s really what it’s all about.”
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