Groton ― Natasha Graham and her husband, Michael Graham, of Groton, who both enjoy cooking and eating good food, wanted to give back to their community by offering something it doesn't already have.
In May, they opened T-Mak Bodega on Bridge Street to offer home-cooked, takeout Puerto Rican dishes and soul food dishes, as well as convenience items.
When looking for a spot, Realtor Nina Beebe searched for a place close to the family's home and where traffic would pass by. With the hiring boom at Electric Boat and the Groton shipyard nearby, she said it was the perfect quick spot for employees to "grab and go."
Electric Boat President Kevin Graney said in February that the company anticipated hiring 5,000 employees in 2024 in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Approximately 23,000 people work at Electric Boat in Connecticut and Rhode Island, a workforce that is projected to increase to 25,000 employees over the next decade, an Electric Boat spokesperson said in June. The company said the increased hiring is due to the Navy's need for Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarines and the natural workforce cycles of people retiring and leaving.
Local officials say they are looking for ways to draw more businesses and overcome some of the challenges that hinder more economic development in the community.
Natasha Graham, who also is an Electric Boat employee, said the family partly chose the Bridge Street location because EB employees pass by to get to work. Those employees, along with Navy personnel and residents, would be a major part of their customer base.
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