Blenlly Mena

BLENLLY MENA IS THE PROUD BRONXITE BEHIND NEXT STOP VEGAN BRAND, THE BRONX’S FIRST VEGAN MEAL-PREP SERVICE COMPANY THAT LATER BECAME THE MOST POPULAR LATINO VEGAN RESTAURANT IN THE NATION.

AFTER GRADUATING FROM BARUCH COLLEGE WITH A DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND A CONCENTRATION IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, BLENLLY LANDED HER FIRST EMPLOYMENT AT FORMERLY KNOWN 5-STAR HOTEL, THE NEW YORK PALACE WHERE SHE BEGAN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD THROUGH TRAVELING.

SHE DISCOVERED A PROFOUND PASSION TOWARDS CULTURES AND FOOD, WHICH LED HER TO MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO LOS ANGELES AND THEN TO SOUTH KOREA WHERE SHE HONED HER CRAFT AS A SELF-TAUGHT CHEF AND BUDDING ENTREPRENEUR WHILE RECEIVING A PLANT-BASED NUTRITION CERTIFICATE THROUGH THE E-CORNELL PROGRAM.

WHEN SHE FOUND HER WAY BACK HOME, BLENLLY STARTED NEXT STOP VEGAN FROM THE SMALL KITCHEN AT HER MOTHER’S APARTMENT. SHE THEN MOVED THE BUSINESS TO HER SISTER’S HOME, AND WHEN FACED WITH A LACK OF STORAGE AND AN INCREDIBLE INCREASE IN CUSTOMERS.

NOW, WITH TWO LOCATIONS IN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS AND NEW LOCATION OPENING SOON IN GREENPOINT BROOKLYN, THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE OPENING MORE RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK, NATIONWIDE AND EVEN INTERNATIONALLY.