Theresa Falcone owns the Cape Haze Convenience Store, but her story starts up in New York. She grew up there, raised her own family on Staten Island, and ran a construction company for over three decades. That’s a lot of time, and a lot of hard work.
She came down to Florida in 1999, and it just clicked. The Englewood and Cape Haze area felt like home. For a while, Theresa split her time between states, doing the classic snowbird thing, but it didn’t take long before she settled in Florida for good.
One day around 2014, she spotted this little spot on Placida Road, perfect for a convenience store. It was close to the street, easy for boaters and locals to swing by, and she could just see it: a place that had everything people might need. Not long after, she figured the area needed a to-go restaurant, too. Making people happy, especially their stomachs, became her thing.
In April 2019, Cape Haze Convenience Store opened its doors, and Theresa has never looked back. Englewood REVIEW sat down with Theresa and talked about her history, her business, and her love for Englewood.
ER: How did this all get started for you, Theresa?
Theresa: When I first opened, it was supposed to be a convenience store. Long story short, months into opening, I realized the need for what I do now. So basically, I became a caterer and deli.
ER: So you do double-duty. You’re a super-busy person, Theresa. Thank you for taking the time to sit with Englewood REVIEW.
Theresa: My pleasure. I do a lot of catering, like every single day I cater. But we’re doing well.
Three years in a row I’ve received “One of the Best Caterers in Englewood.” I got awards for that.
ER: Congratulations!
Theresa: Thanks. For somebody who just wanted to open up a convenience store, trust me, it’s a lot. What I basically do every day is make homemade to-go dinners. We probably push out about 100 every day.
ER: Wow. They must be delicious.
Theresa: Yes, and on top of catering, we have won awards for “Best Subs in Englewood,” so our deli does provide an amazing assortment of sandwiches and sub specialties. Italian probably is my number one, but I do a lot more.
ER: And how long have you been doing this, Theresa?
Theresa: April, so my doors are open seven years.
ER: So, this April you’re celebrating an anniversary of success.
Theresa: I’ll be honest with you, it took about five years, but once word spread, all I hear when people come in is, “I had to come in because I heard about your food.” And then again, like I said, I can give you an absolutely amazing dinner for $12.99 and sometimes it feeds two people. So I’m affordable.
ER: That’s important. And can people just order over the phone and come pick it up?
Theresa: They do. They order over the phone and put orders in whether it be for catering or lunch. I also do own an on-site breakfast food truck, so I do serve breakfast every day, fresh breakfast.
ER: As if you’re not busy enough, right?
Theresa: I know, I know. Trust me, I know. I’m always trying to create something different because I was the first deli in Englewood as far as having a slicer, like a true deli, Italian deli, like from up north. And the competition, it just keeps pouring in because I guess they see what I’m doing so they’re like, “We can do that.”
ER: So you have to come up with different ideas?
Theresa: Yes, I keep coming up with different things. But I specialize. I care. So if you’re gluten-free, well, you’ve found the right place because I’m going to cook for you. Not many people do that. And my bakery is all homemade by me. One of my specialties is my Italian cheesecake which was my mom’s recipe actually.
ER: Aw, I love that. Theresa, what is it that makes Englewood such a special community?
Why do you like it here so much?
Theresa: Oh my gosh. You could bring tears to my eyes and I’m being dead serious. It’s the way everybody gets together. You have to realize, I came from New York where we didn’t know “small town.” We didn’t know “support local.” If you needed a wedding dress or a dress, you went to Sears or Macy’s or whatever.
Over here, the community is so close and we have multiple businesses, restaurants, that we all order from each other, we help each other. If somebody’s in need, they know where to go. They come to Englewood because that’s what this town does. It’s just really an amazing town.
ER: That’s why we all love Englewood.
Theresa: I call it a town because Englewood’s not really very large, it’s small. We call it basically a fishing town with a drinking problem.
ER: You say that with love.
Theresa: Yes, this really is a good community. People help people. It’s a blessing and the other thing I feel I’m blessed with is my support group with my employees. They are my children. They are amazing and for the first time in seven years, I’m able to get away for three or four days.
ER: It’s wonderful to work in such a positive, supportive environment.
Theresa: I have a lot of trust in my team, yes. Like I said, we’re all about subs, catering, deli, homemade. That’s what I’m all about. That, and the Englewood community.
For more information, check out their Facebook page at Cape Haze Convenience Store
6900 PLACIDA RD
ENGLEWOOD, FL
(941) 830-8901
