Photograph by Deb Gau Yury León was behind the counter at La Tapatia grocery retailer, which opened on Marshall’s Most important Road this fall. Over the previous 25 years, the variety of grocery shops carrying Latin American meals and cultural merchandise has grown in downtown Marshall.
MARSHALL — Most important Road is not simply house to quite a lot of companies — it is a spot the place buyers can discover meals and merchandise from completely different cultures.
Over the previous 25 years, the variety of Hispanic grocery shops downtown has grown to incorporate companies resembling La Mexicana, Central America Retailer and La Tapatia Grocery Retailer.
Retailer homeowners stated the connections they’ve constructed with space neighborhood members have been the most effective elements of operating their companies.
“I like speaking to folks and assembly lots of people.” stated Antonio Dueñas, proprietor of La Mexicana.
La Mexicana has been open on Most important Road for 25 years. When the shop first opened, there weren’t many locations the place folks might discover Hispanic meals and merchandise, Dueñas stated.
“My sister and brother-in-law had a retailer in Worthington about seven years earlier than I began right here.” Dueñas stated. “I began studying there with them.”
La Mexicana was at all times a household enterprise: Dueñas’ daughter, Marly Wagner, stated she and her siblings helped with the shop whereas rising up.
Dueñas stated the enterprise has modified over time, as grocery store chains have begun to supply extra Hispanic meals. He additionally served a mixture of prospects who have been fascinated with completely different cultural meals. For instance, when extra Guatemalan immigrants got here to the Marshall space, Dueñas stated he started storing meals like plantains and yuca, or cassava root. Wagner stated when Karen immigrants first got here to Marshall, many got here to La Mexicana to purchase rice.
“Meals is what unites households and communities” Wagner stated.
La Mexicana was additionally a spot the place folks shared vital info, resembling job alternatives within the space, he stated. “It was at all times far more than a grocery retailer.”
Having the ability to assist folks was additionally what Eva Como appreciated to run the Centroamérica Retailer.
“God reveals me easy methods to assist others” What did you say.
The Central America retailer, which just lately expanded to incorporate gadgets resembling clothes and residential items, opened 10 years in the past on Most important Road. As she stated she had suffered a again damage and that influenced her to begin a enterprise for herself and her household, as an alternative of working at her earlier job.
“It was a great determination,” she stated.
There have been a couple of completely different explanation why a grocery retailer appeared like a great enterprise, Como stated.
“We eat on daily basis” so it was positively essential, he stated.
Como, who’s Honduran, stated it was additionally good to have quite a lot of companies in Marshall that supply merchandise from completely different cultures. If a buyer is in search of one thing that Centroamérica Retailer does not have, they know the place they’ll go to search out it. “It is simpler for folks” she stated.
Along with providing Hispanic meals and providers like cash transfers, the shop just lately expanded into the area subsequent door. As he stated, the growth allowed them to supply extra gadgets that prospects have been fascinated with, resembling clothes and sneakers, kitchen utensils and even Spanish and bilingual Bibles.
“We’re nonetheless engaged on it, little by little.” she stated.
As he stated he felt it was a blessing to have the ability to have a enterprise and assist different folks.
“We belief in God, primary” she stated.
The most recent Hispanic grocery retailer on Most important Road opened in October. La Tapatia grocery retailer provides quite a lot of meals, from pantry staples to provide, meats and baked items. Yury León stated the shop’s identify displays his household’s Mexican heritage. “Tapatio” both “Tapatia” is a time period for an individual from the Mexican state of Jalisco, he stated.
It took some time to search out the appropriate location in Marshall to open a brand new grocery retailer, Leon stated. When the previous Thrifty White Pharmacy was vacant, “We thought, ‘That is a great location.'” she stated.
Leon stated it took numerous work to show a pharmacy right into a grocery retailer. León stated her household and her husband, José Hernández, labored collectively to assist renovate the constructing.
La Tapatia now has fridges for dairy and different meals, and a deli space for meats and ready meals.
“I really feel like there’s a little little bit of the whole lot” Leon stated.
León stated that La Tapatia’s inventory has additionally modified slightly since its opening, responding to requests from prospects from Central American international locations and cultures. Totally different prospects could also be in search of various kinds of vegatables and fruits, or styles of elements, León stated.
León additionally wished to encourage American prospects to not be afraid to buy in Hispanic shops, ask easy methods to discover one thing or easy methods to prepare dinner an ingredient.
He stated he has additionally considered providing sources resembling Mexican meals recipes.
“I really feel prefer it’s one thing we are able to perhaps do sooner or later.” she stated.
León stated he felt the shop has acquired good help since La Tapatia opened.
“We’re grateful for the neighborhood and help” she stated.