Despite moving up the corporate ladder at a national drug store chain, Elona Lopari felt unfulfilled in her career after the pandemic. She wanted to leave, but didn’t know what to do next.

With a background in psychology, business consulting and a master's in neuroscience, she believed that she had the skills and experience to build a business. Fast forward two years and she is the proud owner of Lighthouse Café Lounge in Bensonhurst.

The cafe, at 210 Kings Highway, is now morphing into a community beehive where residents relax, hang out with family and friends and get healthy, nourishing food.

Lopari, originally from Albania, said she wanted to create a space that would allow people to talk and make lasting connections, as is often done in cafe culture in her home country. The goal i

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