Originally Published December 2025
By Michele Miller
What’s What New Port Richey
I was following my best intentions to shop small local businesses during the holiday season when I bumped into Aisha Martinez and Anais Cancel a couple of local entrepreneurs who have earned a robust following at local markets and in Tampa, too, as the purveyors of Dulza’s, a niche catering side hustle with a Puerto Rican flare.
Martinez and Cancel were featured in a What’s What New Port Richey business story in June of 2023 about the growing pop-up market industry and in particular, the Community Markets and Events business, which, full disclosure here, serves as an adverting sponsor for What’s What New Port Richey.
Back then they were pushing delicious”to-die” for desserts and homemade breads. They were also considering the next step of growing their business model while growing a customer base on the on the local market circuit.
Another local business venture headed by event planner, Cheryl Taylor called, Community Markets & Events, provided various pop-up venues for vendors to sell their sundries in parks, neighborhoods and on occasion at local businesses and malls.
These local pop-ups offer a convenient way for the community to shop locally, support small businesses while helping to sustain and grow the local economy. Markets give vendors of all sorts – whether it be bakers, soap and dog treat makers, honey gatherers, jewelers or lemonade stand owners – an opportunity to build growl while keeping overhead costs down. For some, it’s the next step in moving on to a food truck or brick-and-mortar store.
That is what happened for Martinez and Cancel. Over the summer of 2024 they moved from table and tent to a full-blown food truck.
And while they will be keeping their day jobs, there is a sense of pride and anticipation moving forward.
“We got to the point where we had to,” Martinez said. “A phone call came out of nowhere that a truck was available and a week later we had our food truck.”
Next steps.
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