Interview: In Search A Cuban Sandwich and a Cuban Coffee - Cubanos ATL

In the summer of 1994, several Cubans began breaking into consulates and the homes of ambassadors as well as hijacking boats in hope to leave their country. After the “maleconazo riots” Fidel Castro announced that any Cubans who wished to leave the island could.

If you have never experience living in a communist country, consider yourself incredibly lucky! One can only imagine what it is living in a place where you do not have even the extremely necessities covered for your family.

It was on September 17, 1995 when at the age of 13 years, Ozzy Llanes and his parents arrived in the United States, after waiting for 12 years for the Cuban government to approve their departure from the island.

“I am Cuban, in the United States as many other countries in the world, it is well known that there is dictatorship in Cuba, but nobody can imagine what it really is. The way we have to live, the things we have to face day by day, but it is not until you get out of the island and see other things, many things you have never imagined existed. This is when you realize how bad things were on the island” Ozzy started telling us.

“There are three ways you can leave the island – you can leave Illegally, you can wait for the government to open its doors, or you can wait for the long and intense process, once a family member,  who is resident of the United States makes the request for you and your family. We did it through the 3rd option. We decided to wait for our turn to leave the country and in our case it took twelve years. These years were very difficult because when your friends, your neighbors, and even some of your family knows you have asked to leave, they start looking at you like a ‘Gusano’ - this is a term in Cuba given to every Cuban that has left the Cuban Regime.”

“We arrived in Miami and were taken to a place to stay, there was an incredible amount of food that we have never seen before. Then something happened to me that I will never forget. There were two boys talking to each other, I look at them, they look at me and continue talking, while listening to them I realized and thought to myself; oh my God what have I done! I do not understand them, what I am going to do now?”

At eighteen Ozzy left Miami and went to live in Palm Beach, there, he started studying Finance at night, and worked in the daytime picking up construction trash. For almost ten years from 2001 to 2009, he studied in college and worked at an excavation company.  “I have always wanted to become an Entrepreneur, and have done small things regarding my entrepreneur desires, but I work for a Financial company for many years, it was a good experience, I learned much but I wanted something else.”

We asked Ozzy regarding where and when was the idea of the Cubano ATL born? To which he replied “Well, as you can imagine I love Cuban food, I couldn’t find any place where you can buy authentic Cuban food like you can get in Miami. Simply great authentic Cuban food. I asked myself where can I find a sandwich and a little Cuban coffee? So, at the beginning of this year I started focusing on the concept behind the Tiny House movement happening over the last five years. Considering how people have been desiring a change regarding great fast service. To convince my wife Susan took a few months, I did not have any experience, I start researching, and began studying for months. I knew I wanted something small, maintaining the authenticity was a must.”

Ozzy continued, “Then COVID-19 arrived! I continued with the plans, anyway, convinced the owner of a small retail plaza in Sandy Springs to let me build Cubanos ATL and place it at his parking lot. We signed the contract for $400.00 per month rent plus 5% from the sales. I designed and built the Tiny House on wheels, with its kitchen and prep-station over the span of two months. We have done very well despite the pandemic. I think that COVID-19 has helped with our success. People were tired of being confined at their homes. We opened at the perfect moment,” Ozzy said.

When asked what his vision was for the future? “I am working on opening the second Cubano ATL in East Cobb next month and there will be five more next year!” Ozzy is a great example that success has no limits… Congratulations Ozzy!

Cubano ATL is located at:

6450 Roswell Rd. C
Sandy Springs, GA  30328
404 889-8948

Open
Tuesday – Friday from 8am to 3pm
Saturday from 8am to 4pm 
Lunch begins at 11am