Since 2010, Vejigantes has been the only sit-down Puerto Rican restaurant in Boston. Founded by husband and wife team, Nivia and Hector Piña, as part of their restaurant group Tres Islas and BEI Cohort III graduates, to bring authentic Puerto Rican cuisine to the South End’s Villa Victoria, a historical Boston community established by Puerto Rican activists in 1960s.

Vejigantes was forced to place restaurant repairs on hold during the pandemic to keep their employees paid and their restaurant open. The BEI Henry P. Kendall Foundation Grant allowed them to make repairs, purchase new appliances, and make other required improvements. As a result, they continued to provide quality services and continued to remain open in a community in which they have become a staple.