'As A Gay Latino Man, Everyone Is Welcome': LGBT-Friendly Cafe Opens In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Milton Canales' family immigrated to the United States in the 1990s when he was 10 years old, and he helped them make ends meet by washing dishes in a restaurant on Long Island at 11.

But that wasn't the hardest thing about his youth.

What was difficult, he said Saturday — at the grand opening of his first restaurant — was realizing he was gay at a young age, while still living in El Salvador, a country he describes as "very homophobic" at the time.

"It was very hard for me as a child to accept what I was going through," he said in front of the new eatery. When he finally told them the truth, it was OK: "I came out to my family at 14, and they were very accepting. I always have been loved."

The love showed when relatives and friends, particularly children, gathered in front of the new cafe at 11th and Jefferson streets, in the quiet northwest section of Hoboken.

Canales was constantly receiving flowers and hugs.

Uncle Milton's Cafe serves "coffee, breakfast, lunch sandwiches, Latin food, desserts & catering," notes its social media. (See a depiction of the menu here.)

Canales was particularly proud of the fresh guacamole they whipped up on Sunday, surrounded by limes. (He says he'll definitely have it for Cinco de Mayo.)

Uncle Milton's is Canales' first restaurant. He has had a catering business on Long Island for 20 years, with most clients in New York.

So how did he end up in Hoboken?

Years ago, a boyfriend (now an ex) lured Canales to Weehawken. Whenever he drove through the next town, mile-square Hoboken, it reminded him of the West Village and Upper West Side, two places where he'd spent a lot of time.

"Everyone's so friendly," he said. "I fell I love with the town. I said, 'If I open a business, it will be in Hoboken.' "

Canales said, "As a gay Latino man, everyone is welcome, no matter your sexuality, race, whatever."

Uncle Milton's Cafe is at 1119 Jefferson St., on the upper west side of Hoboken. Find out more here.

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