Local Entrepreneur Brews Dreams into Reality at Sole Cafe

Sunset Park native Daniel Mentado had dreamed for years of opening a café in his neighborhood. With the launch of Sole Café three months ago at 822 5th Avenue, on the corner of 34th and 5th, he made that dream a reality.

Mentado, a first-generation American whose family hails from Puebla, Mexico, spent 12 years running coffee shops in Manhattan, honing his skills and building a loyal following.

Sole Café, originally a mobile coffee operation that recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, got its start working special events and pop-ups at Soho locations like Arc'teryx, Vuori, and Align yoga studios, often serving coffee in cups branded with the stores’ logos. Now, Mentado's business has found a permanent home in Sunset Park.

Reflecting on how much the area has changed, he recalls when the only foot traffic by the southwest corner of the cemetery was people heading to the Time Warner Cable office or Astarita Pizza. Today, there’s significantly more foot traffic, thanks in part to the area’s rebranding as Greenwood Heights. But for Mentado, it’s still very much Sunset Park.

"I want to give people a chance to see what was here before, to be inclusive of what was here," he says, emphasizing his commitment to community amid ongoing gentrification.

Growing up on 56th and 5th, Mentado remembers riding his scooter through the neighborhood and attending a rare block party as a kid. That memory stuck with him. When Sole opened, he celebrated with a community BBQ. He’s now planning a movie screening to keep that spirit alive.

He credits his parents for instilling a strong work ethic.

"My parents taught me to work hard and to do exactly what you want to do," he says, growing emotional as he recalls his father's struggles.

At one point, his father was laid off from a screen printing shop. Mentado remembers him going down to the bodega on the first floor to ask for a gallon of milk on credit.

"It takes a lot for the head of the household to ask for help," he says. His father turned that setback into an opportunity, launching his own business and passing that entrepreneurial spirit on to his son.

In addition to the café and four mobile coffee units he manages in Manhattan, Mentado still works as the U.S. wholesale manager for Niccolo Coffee, a Melbourne-based supplier.

He's determined to support his parents, recalling how he used to demand the latest pair of Air Jordans as a kid, even when his family was struggling to make ends meet.

"We love to spend money we don’t have," he says, reflecting on the Mexican community. "We spend money on businesses that don’t care about us. We should be supporting local businesses."

He sees that mentality slowly shifting—and believes he's playing a small part in that change. He’s converted many locals who were initially hesitant to pay more than $2 for a cup of coffee. After offering them free samples, they almost always return.

"People really enjoy the coffee," he says, noting that only a small percentage of Manhattan's high-end cafés truly deliver coffee worth their prices.

Mentado sees coffee beans as a commodity that deserves respect and care. He partners with Niccolo for his supply and insists he doesn’t just work for the company—he genuinely believes in their product.

"I like the coffee," says Miguel, a neighborhood native from 33rd Street who describes himself as a coffee snob, "and the chocolate croissants." Pastries come from Pain d’Avignon, a 30-year-old bakery based in Long Island City.

While Mentado is deeply committed to quality, he also prides himself on customer service.

He believes that in many high-end cafés, the point of failure isn’t the equipment, decor, or even the beans—it’s the barista. In his view, the person behind the counter becomes the face of the business, and too often the new generation of baristas doesn’t make an effort to connect with customers. "I consider myself a showman," he says.

"Daniel is awesome," says Victoria, a recent Sunset Park transplant from Bushwick. "He makes the best mocha—just perfect," she adds, also praising the café's fresh pastries.

The café's name, "Sole," plays on words—referencing both Mentado’s love for sneakers and the Sunset Park neighborhood he calls home. Inside, customers can browse his collection of vintage and limited-edition sneakers alongside whole beans for sale.

He considers himself a coffee purist—though he keeps syrups on hand, he hides them behind the espresso machine.

At the same time, he’s committed to giving customers what they want. His menu includes specialties like strawberry matcha and a yuzu matcha spritz. While not on the menu, he also serves a shaken espresso, which he describes as refreshing and frothy thanks to shaking with ice.

Mentado credits Sole Café's strong start to years of hard-won experience: owning equipment outright, avoiding loans, understanding his customer base, and ensuring his baristas—both at the café and in his mobile units—are personable.

By bringing exceptional coffee, pastries, and genuine community spirit, Sole Café has quickly established itself as a neighborhood favorite.

Today, Mentado’s dream thrives because he found a balance between honoring Sunset Park’s past and adapting to its changing present. As Sunset Park continues to transform, Sole stands as a place that bridges old and new—one cup at a time.