ENTREPRENEUR Benjamin Babauta Jr. dreamt of one day using his Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School training to not only return home to Saipan and set up shop, but to also give back to the local community. Now, through Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, named affectionately after his 4-year-old son Tyler, he is able to do just that.
“I’ve always loved ice cream since I was a little kid, but I first discovered gelato when I moved to Las Vegas in 2009 with my sister. We always went to [this gelato shop] because it was in the area where we would shop. Moving back home, we didn’t have any [gelato shops], so when we would take family trips off-island, we always stopped by a gelato shop,” said Babauta, the sole owner of the company.
“Particularly, when I was on a business trip in Japan, our friends took myself and my colleague Dylan Sablan to a small homemade gelato shop. On the way back, I had an epiphany on opening a shop. I was taught in culinary school to make ice cream, so I had to brush up on my skills, change some ingredients, and turn it into gelato.”
Tyler’s Gelatte Stone had its grand opening at Sugar King Park on July 18, also showcasing Babauta’s friends who also run small businesses.
They decided to have a live band, release new flavors, start frequency cards, and donate to local nonprofit organizations.
After being awarded the Bank of Hawaii’s Small Business Revitalization and Development Grant, Tyler’s Gelatte Stone got to work and created “Small Business Sundays” at Sugar King Park, featuring 17 small business vendors and live entertainment by three local bands.
For every gelato that Tyler’s Gelatte Stone sold, $1 would be donated to the Autism Society of the CNMI, an organization that Babauta holds near and dear to his heart, as his son Tyler is on the spectrum.
“It was really meaningful to us to do something for him… It was a great success in supporting other up-and-coming businesses, all while fundraising for a great cause,” Babauta said.
Other small businesses, such as Pate Puffs & Pastries, Islas Creations, Pao Pao, Scattr & So., The Kreative Giftery, Palm Trio, Shop 670, Neni Girl Nails, Coco Bear Cookies, Mind 2 Muscle, SPN Lazer, Marianas Crane, and Fina Mamis & Things, also donated to the autism society.
A combined total of $1,500 was donated to the Autism Society of the CNMI on Thursday afternoon.
Autism Society of the CNMI vice president Romeo Cuellar, for his part, said, “I didn’t realize that we were going to get the donation [that we got]. It’s actually larger than I had anticipated from the beginning.”
He said the funds will go toward future events planned by the society, noting that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in changes on the nonprofit’s events calendar.
“We’re long overdue for our annual quiz night. We were getting ready to have it, but Covid-19 said no. There were a lot of disappointed people and people who kept telling us that we need to have it… We had to cancel all of our events indefinitely,” he added, noting that the society, over the years, has received a lot of support from the local community.
Cuellar said the Autism Society of the CNMI is revamping its online base and will push out more information as they are made available.
This month, in honor of Domestic Awareness Month, Tyler’s Gelatte Stone is switching its focus to support the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, releasing a new purple flavor, “I Got U-Bae,” made of ube or purple yam.
In addition, Tyler’s Gelatte Stone has committed to donate $1 to the NMCADSV from every sale made throughout the month.
Babauta would also like to thank his employees, family, friends, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang and his staff; Rose Sumor and the Bank of Hawaii team; the Autism Society of the CNMI, Mix n’ Macs, Crafty Baeker, Maipe Patchotmu, Vivid Bakery, Couples Cakery, Candle J Saipan, Bonitu Basula, the Sugar King Band, Parker Yobei, High Tide, VJ Tenorio, Palm Trio, Peter Matagolai, Chow Time, RJ’s Pizza, Bitoy’s BBQ, AE Ice Cream Rolls, Heavenly Bites, and most of all, the CNMI community members for their continuous support.
Tyler’s Gelatte Stone is located at Sugar King Park and is open from 12 noon to 7 p.m., Friday to Sunday.
Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, together with family, friends, and partners, donated $1,500 to the Autism Society of the CNMI on Thursday at Sugar King Park.
