Any Cuban Americans in the ATL area? (Atlanta, Roswell: middle-class, Home Depot)

[vkvidal]

I have tried searching the threads but have had no luck. I am hoping someone on here can clue me in... My husband and I moved here 6 months ago, currently we live in Alpharetta. We moved from northern NJ, we lived in an area that had high Cuban population and well we miss our culture! Are there any Cuban Americans or other Hispanic areas here near? If so where are they..... We just feel like fish out of water here

[BeyondInfinity]

Originally Posted by vkvidal

I have tried searching the threads but have had no luck. I am hoping someone on here can clue me in... My husband and I moved here 6 months ago, currently we live in Alpharetta. We moved from northern NJ, we lived in an area that had high Cuban population and well we miss our culture! Are there any Cuban Americans or other Hispanic areas here near? If so where are they..... We just feel like fish out of water here

Checkout Chamblee and Doraville (Buford Hwy area) areas.

[cope1989]

There's actually a growing Hispanic population in metro Atlanta, but you won't really find them in big clusters. Most are 2nd an 3rd generation Cuban Americans moving up here from South Florida. They are middle class and suburban so you can find them almost anywhere in the suburbs.

[jazzcat22]

I've met some, although not nearly as many as when I lived in South Florida. But there's enough to have a Cuban club:

Atlanta Cuban Club Home Page

[robertpolyglot]

Well, I know of two. One was a lady named Amelia. She was a middle-aged single cougar. She had a table offering some health service at my health club in Roswell. She always tried to flirt with the big muscled guys, who could almost be her sons. I once asked her where she lived, and she said "Me compre' un rancho en Norco..." (no "ss" at the end, so she was Cuban). She also told me she was.

The other one was a man who lived in Jonesboro. He painted my kitchen for me. Wouldn't know what he's doing know. I was about to go to Home Depot to get more of what he needed and he said "Jou can get me a gallohn of cheetro' compound."

Bottom line: there are definitely Cubans in Atlanta. I just don't think they live in one neighborhood. If there's a Cuban restaurant, I would start there. I say bring on the Cubans. They're a lot of fun.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by cope1989

There's actually a growing Hispanic population in metro Atlanta, but you won't really find them in big clusters. Most are 2nd an 3rd generation Cuban Americans moving up here from South Florida. They are middle class and suburban so you can find them almost anywhere in the suburbs.

This is my experience, too. My neighbor in Atlanta was a 'first wave' Cuban immigrant at the age of four. He was raised in New Orleans and moved to Atlanta with Delta. He told me that during the first wave of immigration Delta guaranteed employment in the US to its Cuban-based employees.

[vkvidal]

Thanks for the input... I don't know if I will be checking out Doraville or Chamblee any time soon... We have heard nothing good about those areas, mainly full of immigrants from what we have been told. Not that I have anything against immigrants, but not exactly the population I was referring too. I am thinking all in all Ga just may not be for us.... And that's ok, this was a good experience I guess. It's very pretty and scenic. People have been nice as well, but I just don't think it's for us. We will probably give it another 6 months or so... But I think we need to start rethinking this move. :-(

[Onthemove2014]

There are plenty of Mexican here. Particularly in Gwinette and Doralville/Chamblee areas. Ever been on Buford HWY going up to Norcross? I can't see how anyone who has lived here long enough does not notice the huge Mexican population here.

[aggrocrag]

Originally Posted by vkvidal

Thanks for the input... I don't know if I will be checking out Doraville or Chamblee any time soon... We have heard nothing good about those areas, mainly full of immigrants from what we have been told. Not that I have anything against immigrants, but not exactly the population I was referring too. I am thinking all in all Ga just may not be for us.... And that's ok, this was a good experience I guess. It's very pretty and scenic. People have been nice as well, but I just don't think it's for us. We will probably give it another 6 months or so... But I think we need to start rethinking this move. :-(

Yeah Doraville & Chamblee's Hispanic populations are mainly recent immigrants from Mexico & Central America, not Cuban at all. I've found that in Atlanta the neighborhoods that have majority Hispanic populations to not be the best, it definitely isn't like South Florida where there are many middle-class Hispanic majority neighborhoods. Atlanta's Cuban American community is spread out and integrated with the rest of the population so there aren't any areas where they have a noticeable presence. I've met a few who moved to Georgia from Florida in the Suwanee, Duluth & Johns Creek areas, and there's a Cuban restaurant in Lawrenceville on Duluth Hwy called Papi's that is ok.

[cope1989]

Originally Posted by cope1989

There's actually a growing Hispanic population in metro Atlanta, but you won't really find them in big clusters. Most are 2nd an 3rd generation Cuban Americans moving up here from South Florida. They are middle class and suburban so you can find them almost anywhere in the suburbs.

Whoops, meant to say growing "cuban american" population in metro Atlanta