Hernandez family to open Mexican food store

NORWALK — The Hernandez family is excited about the prospect of opening a new food store in Norwalk in April, featuring foods of Mexican and other Hispanic origins. Mi Pueblo Mexican — Latino Groceries is located in the shopping center at 201 Milan Ave., and is owned by the Hernandez Family. Present in the new store will be Tanya Hernandez and her mother and father, Ismael "Paco" and Gabriela. Tanya said her brothers, Alex and Eric, both of Grand Rapids, Mich., are also involved in the enterprise. The family hopes to send invitations out to the community for their grand opening, which they intend to be in the first part of April. Plumbing and construction is being finished and health department and other local agencies' inspections are all that are necessary for opening, Tanya said. "Other than that, we're ready," she said. "We're just waiting on that." As the family showed off their new space Friday, John McClaflin of the Huron County Department of Weights and Measures visited, noting that his visits are welcomed by new business owners because there are no associated fees. "It's a government service that there's no charge for," McCalflin said. "Probably one of the very few." Tanya and her father detailed that the store will eventually feature homemade goods. Paco pointed out that the store will feature groceries and other products not only from Mexico, but from Guatemala, Puerto Rico and other Latin countries. The store, he said, is also not only for Mexicans or other Hispanics, but for persons of all ancestries. He noted that everyone in the community is welcome and encouraged to come in. Paco, who owns Paco's Taxi, said he has fought misunderstanding in the taxi business, because the name has seemed to imply that the service is only for persons of Latin extraction. He said nothing could be farther from the truth and he hopes every segment of the surrounding community joins the family at the new store. "It's for everybody," Paco said. Tanya said there will be packaged and fresh foods, along with a wide range of spices from all over. "We'll have all the Hispanic spices," she said. "We will have fresh fruits, too, and vegetables." Tanya and Paco said there has been encouraging interest from the community and that they encourage inquiries. Tanya said the family also looks forward to serving the needs of the local migrant community. In particular, she said, the store will feature a number of services to allow workers to send money back to family members in Mexico.