Melrose Business Owner Honored With Immigrant Entrepreneur Award

The bookstore owner came to the country with the dream of being a successful entrepreneur.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 7, 2026 2:55 PM EDT

Dent is originally from Guatemala. (Lyndsay McNiff)

MELROSE, MA — A business owner is being recognized for her contributions to the local community and Massachusetts economy.

Andrea Iriarte Dent, owner of Molly's Bookstore on Main Street, will receive the Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Award this November from The Immigrant Learning Center. Dent, a Guatemalan immigrant, opened the independent bookstore at 667-669 Main St. in 2023 after years of hoping to open a bookstore of her own.

"After paying my dues and working a variety of other jobs, I was able to pursue my passion and open a bookstore," Dent said. "Creating a business that is woven into the fabric of the local community — a place where people gather and explore ideas, a place where young people have their first jobs and are mentored — has been incredibly fulfilling."

Dent previously told Patch that opening a bookstore had been a "lifelong dream." After immigrating to the United States from Guatemala, she initially lived in Florida before moving to Massachusetts and eventually settling in Melrose. When space became available in downtown Melrose, Dent moved forward with plans for what would become Molly's Bookstore.

The two-story bookstore includes adult books on its main floor and a children's section and event space downstairs. Dent has also sought to offer a diverse selection of books at the store, something she said was influenced by her own experiences struggling to find certain titles while participating in a Latino reading group.

The store, which is named after Dent's family's Newfoundland dog, has since hosted book clubs, children's storytimes, author events, and other programming. Molly's also holds silent reading events and has worked with community organizations and local nonprofits on fundraisers and events.

The store continues to host author events in Melrose, including a September discussion with author Julian Zabalbeascoa, while Molly's is also listed as a participating bookstore on the North of Boston Book Trail.

"It is humbling to be recognized as a Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awardee and join the ranks of other immigrant entrepreneurs who are making our communities stronger," Dent said.

The Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Celebration will be held Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Royal Sonesta Boston. The awards are produced by the Malden-based Immigrant Learning Center and recognize immigrant entrepreneurs for their economic, social, and scientific contributions in Massachusetts.

Dent expanded Molly's earlier this year with a second location in Allston. She will be honored alongside Dinesh Wadhwani, founder and CEO of Natick-based ThinkLite. Wadhwani immigrated to the United States from Ghana and founded ThinkLite in 2009 while studying entrepreneurship at Babson College.