Clara and Benny didn’t plan to stay.
They came to the Southern Finger Lakes in April 2025 because the military told them to. Both serve in the U.S. Army National Guard, and both were ordered to Elmira to help address a correctional officer shortage in the state. It was supposed to be temporary. The region was unfamiliar. They didn’t have roots here.
What they found surprised them
A Move That Became Something More
Clara grew up in Colombia, South America, and has spent the last decade in the United States, living across different states and adapting to new communities along the way. Benny is from Brooklyn, of Puerto Rican descent, and by the time they arrived in Elmira, this was already his third relocation of the year.
Neither of them had much of an impression of the Southern Finger Lakes before they arrived. Benny recalls looking it up online and wondering if there was much to do. “It looked like a ghost town,” he said. He quickly figured out otherwise. Chemung County’s outdoor scene, particularly hiking, turned out to be more than enough for his days off.
Clara was about to start working at a correctional facility in an unfamiliar place and didn’t know what to expect. What she found was a community that felt different in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
“Somehow it felt different in a good way,” she said. “We started to see real potential for growth, both personally and professionally.”
What was meant to be temporary turned into something bigger.
Building Boricombia from the Ground Up
The food truck was already an idea before they arrived. Here, it became a business.
Boricombia is a Puerto Rican-Colombian fusion food truck, a name that says exactly what it is. Bori for Boricua, Combia for the country Clara calls home. The food is bold and layered, rooted in two distinct culinary traditions, and designed to be an experience as much as a meal. It has quickly grown a fan base and following.
“It’s not just about serving food,” Clara said. “It’s about sharing culture, creating something different, and building a brand people connect with.”
The truck operates across the Elmira, Horseheads, and Corning area. A typical day starts early with food prep, moves into setup and service, and ends with the behind-the-scenes work of running a growing business: restocking, planning, managing social media, and figuring out the next step.
It is a lot of moving parts for two people who are also active members of the National Guard. But they’re doing it, and the community’s response has made it feel worth the effort.
What This Region Offers That NYC Didn’t
Clara and Benny are direct about what drew them to stay: room to grow, and a community that pays attention.
In New York City, launching a food truck brand from scratch would have faced a very different set of obstacles. Competition, cost, noise. Here, the scale works in their favor. People show up. Regulars become relationships. When a community supports what you’re building, that support is visible in concrete ways.
“People here really show up and support you when they believe in what you’re doing,” Benny said.
That’s been the consistent surprise: not that the region is quieter or slower, but that it makes space for something new to take root without getting crowded out before it finds its footing.
Advice for Anyone Thinking About Making the Move
Their advice for someone considering relocating to the Southern Tier is simple: come with an open mind, and be willing to do the work.
“This area has more opportunity than people might expect,” Clara said, “especially if you’re willing to work hard and stay consistent.”
The community responds to effort. That’s something they’ve learned here that a bigger city doesn’t always teach.
“Taking that step ended up opening doors we didn’t expect,” Benny added.
Clara and Benny own and operate Boricombia, a Puerto Rican and Colombian fusion food truck serving the Elmira, Horseheads, and Corning area.
Thinking about relocating to the Southern Finger Lakes? Our Help Me Move page is a good place to start exploring what life here looks like. If you’re interested in the region’s food, arts, and community scene, take a look at what’s happening across the area.