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Date: 7/9/2020
ENFIELD, CT – Not all businesses were impacted negatively due to COVID-19. On the contrary, One Love Jamaican Restaurant, located on 917 Enfield St., opened in the middle of the pandemic and thrived in spite of it.
Owner Sheckiera Stanberry-Williams said, “The pandemic is horrible, but it worked out in our favor. We didn’t have a big rush of people piling inside so we weren’t overwhelmed. Though we had four people at a time, there was a long line by Route 5 of folks waiting patiently.”
It's worth the wait walking inside to the vibrant colors of red, green, yellow and black on the walls, smelling the aroma of onions, curry powder and other jerk spices while hearing Bob Marle’s song ‘One Love’ playing in the background.
Williams loves to cook and dreamed of opening her own restaurant. This self-taught chef worked at various jobs to generate enough funds to open a restaurant.
One day, she decided to make a rum cake and post pictures of it on Facebook asking if anyone was interested in buying a rum cake. In three years, Williams was selling over 40 rum cakes. She started cooking at her house, bringing lunch to her husband’s friends and colleagues.
Then she went to the Town Hall to find out what she needed to do to sell cakes and food outside her home. Williams got a permit to sell cakes outside of her house using the name One Love cuisine. But she wasn’t able to sell food without a commercial building.
It took a year and seven months for One Love to open, which Williams said during that time she learned a lot. “It was a teaching experience,” Williams responded. “To learn what I needed to know about the restaurant business. Now, I know what to expect. Even when things seem rough, I say to myself if I overcame all the other obstacles there’s nothing that can stop me now nothing at all.”
In opening One Love, Williams’ goal was to introduce Jamaican cuisine to Enfield. Meals such as ackee and saltfish, jerk pork chops, curry goat, oxtails, Escoveitch fish, red peas soup, and chicken, beef and vegetable patties wrapped in coco bread. Even Jamaican style desserts like coconut drops and sweet potato pudding.
“We make sure everything is made fresh every day,” Williams replied. “I try to make it authentic and real as possible.”
Springfield resident Victoria Mancheno is originally from Jamaica. She saw a post about the restaurant on Facebook and decided to try it out. Mancheno loved it and goes to One Love frequently. She responded, “I love the fact that it is black-owned. I love the fact that they are nice. It is simple and literally just a nice taste of Jamaica.” Mancheno continues, “My favorite meal is the curry goat or chicken with some nice rice and peas, cabbage and a Cola soda. You’re missing out on life if you don't have this.”
Enfield resident Nicole Kohler has been waiting for Jamaican cuisine to come to the town. “I've lived in Enfield my whole life,” said Kohler. “We’ve never had any kind of authentic food places. Anytime you want Jamaican or Spanish food, you have to travel all the way to Springfield or Hartford. One Love is local, convenient, family owned and delicious.”
Williams is amazed at the overall reaction she has been receiving and is grateful for everyone’s support of the restaurant.
“It's been a positive feedback,” she said. “The community wants me to do well and they’re here for me. It’s been fantastic. Honestly, they’re great.”
One Love is truly a glimpse of Jamaica’s finest brought to Enfield.
One Love Jamaican Restaurant is open Monday-Thursdays 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 860-741-0007 for take-out and curbside pickup.