In Hollis, Queens, a quiet but powerful story of Caribbean pride is unfolding inside a neighborhood dessert shop that has quickly become a symbol of community and cultural connection. Romesha Deen, a proud Guyanese-American, owns and operates what is believed to be the only Guyanese-owned Cinnabon and Carvel franchise in the world.
Nearly two years after opening the doors at 205-03 Hillside Avenue, Deen’s business is more than a place to grab a cinnamon roll or ice cream—it’s a welcoming hub where customers from across New York come to celebrate not just sweet treats, but identity and shared heritage.
- Advertisement -
“When my parents arrived in the U.S., people didn’t even know where Guyana was,” Deen shared. “Now, people from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Long Island—they come here just because it’s Guyanese-owned. That means everything.”
Deen’s road to entrepreneurship wasn’t immediate. After years in corporate marketing and finance, including time at NBC Universal, she made the decision to create something of her own—a legacy for her family, her children, and her community.
“I wanted to be in control of my future,” she said. “In corporate spaces, you work hard, but someone else benefits. I wanted to build something that belongs to me and that can inspire my children.”
The determination to succeed, she said, came from her mother, Maureen, a single mother who worked, studied, and raised a family against all odds. Today, Deen’s success is also supported by her husband Ken and their children, Kyle and Kaitlyn, who have all become part of the store’s heartbeat.
“My mother is the strongest woman I know,” Deen said, holding back tears. “Everything I’ve built started with her example.”
Deen has poured that same energy into the shop, often working seven days a week, from morning baking shifts to late closings. What keeps her going is the deep connection she’s forged with her community, one customer at a time.
One of the most popular features of the store is the Carvel cakes customized with Caribbean flags. What started as a simple idea during Labor Day Weekend to honor the West Indian Day Parade has since grown into a cultural staple.
“People come just for the cakes,” Deen said, smiling. “We make a batch of Guyanese flag cakes, and they’re gone by Saturday morning.”
Customers regularly request cakes with the flags of Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Barbados, and more. Some buy them for parties, others simply as a gesture of pride.
“For many, it’s about celebrating who they are,” Deen added. “Even if they don’t have an event, they still want that cake to remind them of home.”
Inside the shop, the bright walls and inviting space create a warm, family-friendly atmosphere where people linger—not just to eat, but to talk, relax, and reconnect.
“We didn’t want to build a typical franchise where people just rush in and out,” Deen explained. “We wanted it to feel like home. And now, people come here and stay. Even in winter.”
When asked about expanding, Deen said she’s focused on perfecting her Hollis location and building a store that stands among the best in Queens.
“My goal is to make this the number one Carvel in the borough. That’s what I’m working toward—one scoop at a time.”
For Deen, each cake, each customer, each flag proudly displayed is part of something much bigger—a quiet celebration of heritage, community, and the sweet success of staying true to your roots.
