Meet Pablah Ferraz Schwartz, Fresscafe owner and Avidia customer, named SBA Small Business Person of the Year in Massachusetts.

When Pablah Ferraz Schwartz got the call, she thought it was a prank. But the news was real and incredible – she had been named the 2025 Small Business Person of the Year in Massachusetts by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). As the owner of Fresscafe, Inc., with locations in Framingham and Natick, Pablah was honored for her business success and her deep commitment to community. She joined 49 other honorees in Washington, D.C. during National Small Business Week to represent their states – and their unique success stories.

A Spirit for Entrepreneurship – and for Giving.

Pablah’s entrepreneurial roots run deep. Raised in a small Brazilian town, she sold vegetables from her family garden at age 8 and at 12, knit hats to fuel her desire to make her own money. Sadly, she lost both parents in her youth, but her desire to make a difference and help others lived on.

Inspired by a cousin working with Doctors Without Borders, Pablah dreamed of moving to China to volunteer with organizations that support orphans. Her remaining relatives, however, encouraged her to move to the United States to make her own money first.

So, at age 24, she packed up and went to the U.S. to study and later build something of her own. After a devastating car accident, she relied on the kindness of friends to recover and get back on her feet. That same grit and gratitude would help her heal and fuel her dream of opening a café.

In 2005, with a small bank loan, lots of help from friends, and no savings, she purchased her first Fresscafe location in Natick.

“I didn’t have a penny. I bought on a dream,” she laughs.

Building a Business. Creating a Community.

From the start, Pablah envisioned more than just a place to eat. “I always say, I don’t sell food — I provide community,” she says.

That belief has guided her journey ever since and brought her to people who would greatly enhance her life. One generous café customer even helped fund the first renovation of Fresscafe in Natick in 2006. She also paid for Pablah’s humanitarian work, providing funding for Pablah to travel to India, Africa, Nepal, and Brazil to help fight human trafficking.

Another benefactor helped provide invaluable business advice to help Pablah’s café. “At first, I didn’t know much about running that business, but she really helped me.”

With that knowledge, Pablah eventually purchased a second location in Framingham.

She was so grateful for the advice that she now offers similar support to other business owners. “I’m actively involved with Downtown Framingham, Inc. DFI, to provide guidance, fundraising, and events to help other business owners.”

A Banking Partner Who Believed in Her and the Power of Community

When it came time to renovate her Framingham business in 2019, Pablah turned to her longtime bank for a loan, but was denied.

“I couldn’t believe they refused me for the loan. I was with them for 20 years.”

Fortunately, a friend pointed her in the direction of a community bank that shared her vision and values: Avidia.

“Avidia said yes when I needed it most,” she says. That loan helped her stay afloat during the pandemic and eventually secure PPP funding. “Avidia is a big part of my success. Without their support, I wouldn’t be here.”

What It Means to Be Supported – and Recognized.

Today, Fresscafe and Pablah’s mission to help others are thriving. She continues to travel the world to help at-risk children.

Her recognition by the SBA means more than just a trophy.

“I don’t have the biggest profits or the most employees,” she says. “But the SBA saw me — an immigrant, a woman, a mother, a small business owner — and the community I’ve built. It’s been amazing.”

Ready for a community bank that supports and cheers your success?

Contact Marcy Silva at 774-760-1282 or [email protected] to learn more about how Avidia can help you.