Longtime Canarsie residents Calvin and Latoya Sennon, the owners of TriniJam BK Roti Bar & Grill, used to ride by 9501 Flatlands Avenue, once home to an Italian restaurant and other failed eateries, and wondered how the location could become a staple of the community that they loved – a community where they were raised and also raised children of their own.
TriniJam became the epicenter for Mas in Canarsie every Saturday and Sunday in August bringing unity, culture and creativity to the neighborhood.
Mas in Canarsie is part of the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Open Streets Program that allows organizations and associations, etc. to transform streets into public spaces open to all. TriniJam, in partnership with Visit Canarsie, hosted these weekend street festivals to celebrate Canarsie, Caribbean culture, local artists and entrepreneurial dreamers.
The Sennons know all about “dreaming their business into reality” and how challenging it can be to make that dream successful. They opened their restaurant five months after the pandemic began in 2020. Husband and wife, partners in business, not only had to figure out how to make a budding restaurant thrive but had to make it flourish when the world was trying to figure out how to “live” amid a crisis. The two thoroughly researched options, experienced trial and error, and put in the time and great effort to figure out what worked.
TriniJam and the Sennons have gained valuable information and accomplished a lot in the five years since opening. They were part of the creation of Taste of Canarsie and Celebrate Canarsie, events that encouraged community, culture, creativity and business explorations. Many partnerships have been formed, including with the NYC Department of Education (DOE). TriniJam is a vendor for the DOE, and they participate in District 18 events such as the back-to-school backpack giveaway.
The owners of TriniJam are part of a group of constituents, business owners and elected officials, etc. that want to help make Canarsie a community that everyone can be proud of and to encourage all residents, young or old, to get involved. “If I plant you, would you grow?” is a question that Calvin’s father used to ask him, and now he’s asking the same question to the community.
Local, small businesses and artists are welcome to join Mas in Canarsie every Saturday and Sunday in August, along East 95th Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. TriniJam will remain open for dinner after the festival. Community members are encouraged to come and show support.
The smell of delicious (possibly spicy) food can be smelled around the corner, and the DJ will be playing music that will have you dancing down the open street. “We will use food as an influence to bring people in,” Sennon said. “Showing up to support Mas in Canarsie is an investment in the future of the Canarsie community.”
