Beyond churning out nostalgic sweets, CocoAndré is also a hub for community. “Once a month, we have a market to share this space with new businesses coming up [in the area],” says Pedraza. “Seeing all these families with their children shopping and looking around and drinking our horchata—it feels good.”
It’s this strong tie to their Oak Cliff community—and to each other—that makes CocoAndré so special, notes Puente. “To me, small businesses are the bread and butter of your neighborhood,” she says. “They make you feel at home and know your name and who you are. When you’re connecting with a small business, especially one that’s women owned, you’re not just supporting them but their whole family.”