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Venezuelan Migrants Could Soon Create New York’s First ‘Little Caracas’Venezuelan Migrants Could Soon Create New York’s First ‘Little Caracas’ Venezuelan Migrants Could Soon Create New York’s First ‘Little Caracas’Venezuelan Migrants Could Soon Create New York’s First ‘Little Caracas’
(1 day later)
Under an elevated subway track in Queens, Victor José Hernandez was whipping up the pepitos that he had perfected at a street cart in Caracas, Venezuela.Under an elevated subway track in Queens, Victor José Hernandez was whipping up the pepitos that he had perfected at a street cart in Caracas, Venezuela.
Layering freshly grilled chicken and beef with a half-dozen other ingredients on a split roll, he doused the heaping pile with homemade garlic sauce and grated Cheddar cheese on top. Then he melted it with a blowtorch until it oozed.Layering freshly grilled chicken and beef with a half-dozen other ingredients on a split roll, he doused the heaping pile with homemade garlic sauce and grated Cheddar cheese on top. Then he melted it with a blowtorch until it oozed.
The pepitos stand sprang up last winter on Roosevelt Avenue, a bustling commercial corridor that runs alongside the Spanish-speaking communities of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona. Just steps away, an Ecuadorean restaurant now displays a big Venezuelan flag and offers karaoke with Venezuelan love songs. And the line for arepas and cachapas (sweet corn cakes) spills out the door of a Venezuelan cafe.The pepitos stand sprang up last winter on Roosevelt Avenue, a bustling commercial corridor that runs alongside the Spanish-speaking communities of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona. Just steps away, an Ecuadorean restaurant now displays a big Venezuelan flag and offers karaoke with Venezuelan love songs. And the line for arepas and cachapas (sweet corn cakes) spills out the door of a Venezuelan cafe.
Could this be the makings of a Little Venezuela?Could this be the makings of a Little Venezuela?
Though New York City was built on immigrant neighborhoods — Chinatown, Curry Hill, Little Italy and Little Haiti, among many others — it has never had a Venezuelan neighborhood. Historically, the city’s Venezuelan population was tiny and overshadowed by much larger Hispanic groups, including Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, immigration experts said. Many early Venezuelans also arrived with resources and connections and did not need to band together in a traditional immigrant enclave.Though New York City was built on immigrant neighborhoods — Chinatown, Curry Hill, Little Italy and Little Haiti, among many others — it has never had a Venezuelan neighborhood. Historically, the city’s Venezuelan population was tiny and overshadowed by much larger Hispanic groups, including Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, immigration experts said. Many early Venezuelans also arrived with resources and connections and did not need to band together in a traditional immigrant enclave.
But that has changed as Venezuelans have become one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in New York and around the United States. The Venezuelan newcomers — like generations of immigrants before them — have increasingly come together in the city, bringing their food, culture and identity to corners where there was none before and, in the process, taking the first steps toward staking a claim to a neighborhood of their own.