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BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS

Chandler businesswoman finds long-term success

Serving up authentic Jamaican food is Francis-Palmer’s passion

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When Karen Francis-Palmer first moved from New York to Chandler, she didn’t tell all of her family and friends right away.

“I knew they would try and talk me out of it, because I didn’t know anyone out here,” Francis-Palmer said. “I told them about six months later. Some of them thought Arizona was all tumbleweeds.”

In 2008, Francis-Palmer opened Hot Pot Caribbean Cuisine on Arizona Avenue in Chandler. That allowed her to bring authentic Jamaican fare to the Valley in a way she feels wasn’t done properly in the past.

“I took a trip out here, and the Caribbean food I ate, made me say ‘This is not my culture,’” she said.

Food had remained a passion for Francis-Palmer all her life. Her younger adult years took her to positions in the world of Manhattan corporate finance, but she always longed for great Caribbean food.

“My previous career had not been my forte, but I never delved into restaurants until I took the plunge on July 12, 2008,” she said.

Francis-Palmer had her business up and running just 45 days after she moved from New York to Arizona. Despite the developing global recession of 2007-09, enthusiasm was high — both for Francis-Palmer and her patrons.

“A lot of people were losing things due to the economy, but folks still need to eat,” she said. “And we got great community support.”

Francis-Palmer said she was a first-year business owner in 2008-09, the recession was a challenge, but she was also knee-deep in all that one goes through and learns in their rookie year as an entrepreneur.

“I looked around our plaza (on the northeast corner of Arizona Avenue and Warner Road) some time in 2009, and I noticed there were only three of us (businesses) still standing,” she said.

That plaza is extremely busy today and has added slightly to its overall capacity.

Francis-Palmer said networking has been a huge element of succeeding as a Black business owner in the Valley.

“Networking is probably important for almost all business owners,” she said. “Referrals, friends, customers who spread the word all help us grow.”

Authenticity is a product adjective Francis-Palmer uses often. She said it’s key to prepare food fresh daily — from scratch — using both local and imported spices from Jamaica.

Some foods are set to marinate one day ahead. However, all cooking takes place each morning, and all seafood items are cooked to order.

“That seafood accounts for about one-quarter of business,” Francis-Palmer said “Everyone who eats here, it should be like they are eating in Jamaica,” she said. “It has to taste authentic.”

Customers have remained loyal enough to the single location to allow Francis-Palmer to expand to include a food truck in 2017.

COVID-19 provided a whole new set of challenges to folks in the food business. Gov. Doug Ducey limited indoor dining and restricted businesses to take-out only, at times, meaning customer loyalty and willingness to eat at home were critical.

Francis-Palmer says there are many pieces to staying afloat as a businessperson.

“Everything is placed on your shoulders, and you are forced to grow,” she said.
Mentoring is a key part of a business community. That’s why Francis-Palmer is passing along her experience to some local entrepreneur hopefuls, whom she declined to list by name.

Some of the business owners she’s helped or collaborated with, closed permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“There is so much to know,” she said. “There are taxes, accounting, setting and altering opening and closing times, setting prices, how to advertise, how often to get deliveries, how to create and update a menu and how to write a lease, just to name a few.”

Francis-Palmer said she has a positive relationship with the owner of Ocean Blue, a Caribbean restaurant at Kyrene Road and Chandler Boulevard, and co-ops with the owner of Caribbean Palms in Scottsdale to order fresh specialty products from New York City.

With only about six employees, Francis-Palmer said, it’s important everyone enjoys their jobs. When other types of businesses closed due to COVID-19, out-of-work help came to her from a nearby hair salon, among other Chandler places.

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