Ingrid Guzman started her career as a dental hygienist, but her eye for interior design eventually led her to event planning, coordinating and designing; after a long process of obtaining city permits, Guzman will now be able to open her Reservoir Avenue company, Dulce Vida Bebe, to small gatherings such as weddings, bridal showers, birthdays, baby showers and more.

Guzman, the mother of six children, worked 45 to 50 hours a week as a dental hygienist and wanted a career where she could spend more time with her kids. The idea of planning and designing events developed from the birthday parties she’d throw for her children. Every time guests stopped by with their kids, they’d ask Guzman who she hired to decorate. When she said she did it herself, they looked at her in disbelief.

Friends eventually started hiring Guzman to decorate their parties – which she would do all for free. Guzman would either have families purchase items and then she’d decorate or she’d buy the decorations and have individuals reimburse her.

Fifteen years later, Guzman is attracting high-end clientele and has planned, coordinated and designed weddings in Newport and big hotels; she said her specialty is crystals, florals and centerpieces. Because of the time she’s spent in the field, Guzman recognizes that not everyone can afford to spend $10,000 just for an event venue.

“I have brides that can't afford big venues,” said Guzman.

Hailing from Providence, Guzman wanted to house her business in Cranston because she was losing clients at her Broad Street location since people were worried about having their vehicles broken into. Knowing that Cranston was a nice area, Guzman searched for a space with a modern and elegant look.

The old Rainbow Bakery on Reservoir Avenue caught her eye. After calling about the space for two months but hearing nothing in return, Guzman was driving by the business one day when she saw individuals inside. She stopped, talked with the individuals and expressed her interest in the smaller of the two available spaces. She got the spot.

The difficulty started when Guzman went to obtain permits for her event space since she did not have the sufficient number of parking spaces required to operate this facility. Additionally, Guzman’s facility was labeled as a banquet facility and because the 9,189 square foot facility was zoned C-1, a banquet facility could not operate under that zone.

The Planning Department’s staff gave Guzman’s application a negative recommendation when the request came before the Planning Commission on Oct. 4. In a memo, the staff stated it had concerns about the application’s compatibility with the surrounding residential properties based on the potential peak vehicle trips and parking needs; the property is surrounded by commercial areas to the north and south along Reservoir Avenue with residential homes directly to the east.

The Planning Commission approved the application, sending it to the Zoning Board on Oct. 12 to ask for permission to operate a banquet facility with a reduced number of parking spaces.

Guzman obtained 15 additional parking spaces – for a total of 25 – from leasing spots from a nearby dental facility and using spaces from the neighboring physical therapy facility.

Guzman proposed that the facility would be primarily open on the weekends from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. In the morning of an event, she and two of her workers would come in to set up chairs, tables and decorate the facility. Guzman would cap the facility at 75 people and said the venue would be for small crowds around 30 to 40 guests. The venue does not have a kitchen on site, so guests would have to bring in their own food and drinks.

On Oct. 12, Zoning Board member Joy Montanaro inquired if individuals would be able to bring their own alcohol into the facility. Guzman said the only way alcohol would be distributed at the facility would be through an outside caterer since they hold a liquor license that travels with them. Guzman herself does not have a liquor license.

Montanaro had concerns about people parking on the opposite side of Reservoir Avenue and crossing over to get to Dulce Vida Bebe and cited several past fatalities. Guzman said her contract would mention not parking across the street and walking across Reservoir Avenue. Montanaro said not everyone would see the contract.

Two residents spoke against the plan, citing noise, trash, parking and safety as potential issues. While they commended Guzman on her endeavor, they did not believe that Reservoir Avenue location to be the right fit.

“Rats are a big problem in the neighborhood,” said resident Pamela Smith, who lives a short distance from the Dulce Vida Bebe’s parking lot. “If food is coming in, how are the leftovers being disposed of?”

Hazelwood Street resident Renee Desaulniers added that rats have been an issue with a nearby restaurant’s dumpster.

Smith also raised concern of the potential noise of late night events as well as people parking in front of the residential houses; Smyth said the streets are narrow and that it’s especially difficult to get in and out with snow.

Guzman addressed parking concerns at the meeting, saying she would pay a security guard to ensure people weren’t parking in front of houses. McFarland suggested the business look into valet parking which Guzman is currently looking into.

Guzman did receive two letters of support from Citywide Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli and Director of Economic Development Franklin Paulino.

The Zoning Board approved her request in a 4 to 1 vote with the conditions that the facility’s dumpster be relocated to a location as approved by the Building Official and screened on three sides as required by ordinance.

Guzman said the process to get approval was difficult and she almost gave up because everywhere she turned people kept telling her no. Since December 2021 when she started renting the facility, Guzman said she’s lost so much money from not booking events as well as paying for rent, electricity, Wi-Fi and gas while continuing to remodel the place. Things changed once she met Paulino and he was able to assist her in her endeavors.

While this time has been an emotional roller coaster, Guzman hopes this process can be made easier for other people trying to operate their business in the city. There was a lot of going between departments only to be sent back to where she originally started. She hopes a better system can be put in place.

Since the Zoning Board’s approval last week, Guzman has four clients coming in to look at the space for gatherings.