MINT HILL, N.C. — A new Mint Hill brewery is bringing a taste of inclusivity to the Charlotte area as a brother-sister duo honors their family's legacy in a unique way.
Panzú serves up a pint and a plate from multiple Hispanic heritages, including Latin American, Cuba and Puerto Rican. Rosa and Johan Marte are the proud owners of Panzu, which started as a way to honor their father.
"Panzú means big beer belly guy in Dominican slang," Rosa Marte said with a laugh.
The Martes are from the Dominican Republican. That's where their father raised them with an entrepreneurial spirit. Now, he lives on through their brewery's logo. Outside of the intentional design and menu, the storefront is filled with international flair, including the native art pieces lining the walls.
Bringing this restaurant together requires far more than a 40-hour workweek. That's why it's fair to ask the Marte why they put so much work into their business.
The answer is simple for these siblings.
"The purpose of being an entrepreneur is to leave behind a legacy but also help people," Johan Marte said. "If you don't have that, don't get into it."
"I think we need to break with the conception that just because you want to do it you can do it," Rosa Marte added. "No, here you have to do it right with the proper steps."
And as for the Martes' goals, outside of growing their business, Johan offers this.
"We want to bring the whole community of Latinos together to be able to showcase what we can do as a community," he said.
Contact Kia Murray at kmurray@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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