New seating area in My Sister’s Fault
Sisters Angi and Rous Robles began their small Puerto Rican restaurant five years ago, renting a space in the historic Milford Chronicle building on Southwest Front Street. The business, named to reflect the closeness of the two sisters who said that if it did not work out, they could always say it was “my sister’s fault,” the restaurant was an instant success, offering Puerto Rican food with their own flare as well as stunning baked goods.
Angi and Rous grew up in Puerto Rico. They often talk about how they created baked goods in their Section 8 apartment complex, selling them door-to-door at a very young age. When they came to this country, they missed the foods they grew up with and began creating what they call their version of Puerto Rican cuisine. When a bakery owner in town decided to close his bakery after the death of his wife, he approached the sisters about taking over the space and My Sister’s Fault was born.
Kid’s “picnic” area featuring signs given to the sisters over the years
A year or so ago, the sisters purchased a vacant lot on the corner of South Walnut and Southwest Front Street with the intention of building a new location as they were quickly outgrowing their current space. However, during the pandemic, construction costs skyrocketed and they were unable to save enough for a down payment on the new building, so the project was placed on hold. Then the sisters had a discussion with Zack King, owner of EasySpeak and Penny Square.
“We talked to Zack one day and he told us to just buy our building,” Angi said. “I had no intention of buying an old building, but he told us it would make sense to own it. He explained all the benefits and I began to see how this could be a good idea.”
The sisters began the process, talking to the previous owners to see what options they had. In the middle of the discussion, Angi learned that the house next door to Rous was for sale.
“I had never owned a home and this one was right next door to my sister,” Angi said. “So, I told everyone that if I had to choose between buying the building where the restaurant is or owning the house next to my sister, the restaurant could wait.”
Larger kitchen at My Sisters Fault
Enter Bill Pfaff, the Director of Economic Development for Sussex County, who talked to the sisters about grants and other options available to them. They applied for grants and loans, receiving approval for a mortgage with no money down. In addition, they received funding from the Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) grant which they used to update the restaurant.
Artwork on the walls created by Nadia Zychal
From the success of the business to owning the building they began that business in has been nothing short of a miracle, according to Angi.
“This has just been a miracle,” Angi said. “The fact that we got enough to buy the building with no money down and enough to renovate it is truly a miracle. We have always done the right things to show that we handle our money well and banks recognize that, but for a business that has only been in business five years to be where we are, we feel like this is truly a miracle.”
The exterior of the building received a new coat of paint while the interior was completely renovated. The kitchen was expanded and new equipment purchased to make the restaurant run smoothly. Tables and chairs were added while the entire interior received fresh paint. A mural, painted by artist Nadia Zychal, is in memory of a close friend, Grecia.
Grecia and Malik’s memorial mural, created by Nadia Zychal
“She was giving birth and, unfortunately, she and her baby died,” Angi said. “She was our biggest cheerleader. She was Puerto Rican, and she loved the tropics, tropical flowers, palm trees. We gave Nadia an image of her kissing her belly before she passed, and Nadia turned it into something beautiful that we will always treasure.”
Sections of the building are rented out to tenants, some of which were already there when the sisters bought the building. They are planning an event space, but that area still needs some updating. When asked what they plan to do with the land they purchased for a new building, Angi stated they had not even thought about it.
“We have been so busy with our own renovation, we have not had time to think about that,” Angi said. “I mean, even if I wanted to build something, I don’t have the money to do it right now. I had this crazy idea we would only be closed for one week to do all the renovations, but that didn’t happen. I didn’t count on all the inspections. That is what took so long. Plus, you are on other people’s time and they are busy.”
Even though they purchased an old building, they did not run into many issues during the remodel.
New cases and sign at My Sisters Fault
“We’re so grateful for the community and everybody who supports us because if it wasn’t for them, there would not be the growth,” Angi said. “We saw an opportunity and we have met the right people at the right time to make this happen. I never would have thought I would own a house next to my sister or that I would own this old building, but it is happening, and we are so very grateful to everyone who has helped make this happen for us.”
My Sister’s Fault is located at 10 Southwest Front Street in Milford, featuring savory dishes created by “Savory Sister” Angi and baked goods created by “Sweet Sister” Rous. They are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM until 6 PM and on Saturday from 8 AM to 3 PM. Orders can be placed online by visiting https://order.my-sisters-fault.com.
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