By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Colombian restaurateur Juan Carlos Arbeláez has been selected to receive the city’s prestigious Hispanic American of the Year award, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
Each year, the West Haven Hispanic American of the Year Alumni Committee bestows the award on a Hispanic resident who personifies service in the city’s thriving Hispanic community.
The committee tapped Arbeláez, a native of Cajamarca, Colombia, for his community commitment and cultural pride and will honor him at West Haven’s eighth annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Friday.
The ceremony is open to the public and set for noon at City Hall, 355 Main St.
“Being named Hispanic American of the Year is a reflection not just of my own journey but of the community that made it possible,” said Arbeláez, who owns and operates Saoco Colombian Restaurant at 456 Forest Road. “West Haven has given me and my family so much — this recognition belongs as much to this city as it does to me.”
Arbeláez, 59, will celebrate his Colombian roots with dozens of loved ones, friends and city officials, along with an array of dignitaries and descendants of folks from Colombia and Latin America.
Committee members and West Haven officials led by Borer will escort the city’s top Hispanic to the front steps of City Hall for his special recognition. A Colombian-flavored lunch will follow.
Borer praised the civic-minded Arbeláez for his wholehearted devotion to lifting up his vibrant community and carrying on the proud traditions of Colombia.
“Juan Carlos Arbeláez is a longtime resident who for two decades, along with his family, has owned and operated Saoco, a wonderful West Haven restaurant that has been a cultural cornerstone where he shares the rich heritage of his native Colombia while constantly finding ways to give back to his community,” Borer said. “It is our absolute privilege to celebrate Juan Carlos.”
At the City Hall event, Borer will present Arbeláez with a Colombian flag and a mayoral citation for his good works.
He will also receive an embroidered “Hispanic American of the Year 2026” jacket from Borer.
State Rep. Bill Heffernan, D-West Haven, will present Arbeláez with a General Assembly citation from the city’s delegation.
The cultural event will include remarks by Borer and committee member Sammy Rivera, West Haven’s 2021 Hispanic American of the Year, who will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Before a prayer by West Shore Fire Department Chief Rafael Zayas, the city’s 2023 Hispanic American of the Year, Gabriella Xavier will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the Colombian national anthem, “Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia.”
Arbeláez grew up in Cajamarca, a town in Colombia’s Tolima Department, in the heart of the coffee-growing region.
Under his leadership, Saoco has become widely recognized for its expansive menu, developed alongside chef Manuel Zamora, who has worked with Arbeláez since 2007. Each dish, including the popular bandeja paisa — a hearty Colombian platter of seasoned beef, pork belly, chorizo, rice, beans, plantains, avocado and fried egg — is prepared daily using local ingredients and traditional recipes.
Arbeláez has called West Haven home for decades, building a life centered on family, hard work and community. A husband and father, he believes that personal success is most meaningful when shared with others.
“West Haven took a chance on my dream, and I’ve tried every day since to earn it back,” Arbeláez said. “This award means more than any of us can put into words. None of this would be possible without the Saoco team — I’m incredibly proud of their dedication and hard work.”
Hispanic Heritage Month, which traces its roots to 1968, specifically honors the diverse cultures and histories of people from Spain and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, the Caribbean and South America, which includes Colombia.
The celebration begins mid-month because it marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including those in Central America.
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