Two new stores are hoping Vancouverites are hungry for foods from Central and South America.
Signs are up for two unrelated grocery stores in Vancouver, and they're not far from each other. Los Tapatios Imports and San Juanita Latin Products are only about a half-hour stroll apart; Los Tapatios will be located at 98 E Broadway and San Juanita at 3182 Oak St.
This will be Los Tapatios' second location; the original is on Royal Oak Avenue in Burnaby. The family-run business, owned by Francisco Cardenas, carries a lot more than just Mexican food.
"We have products from Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Chile, Brazil, and other countries," his niece and employee Dian Lujan tells V.I.A.
Los Tapatios was started after Cardenas, who ran a construction business, struggled to find Latino products in Vancouver during the pandemic.
Lujan says the store is nearly ready to open, and they're just waiting for the city's permission.
Meanwhile, signs have been up for weeks, racks are in place inside, and a business license is pending at San Juanita Latin Products, but it's unclear when the new shop will open, as the store doesn't have an online presence.
It's unclear exactly what San Juanita will carry, but signs on the store advertise snacks, sauces, drinks, arepas, empanadas, and more.
Previously, the location was the Oak Dollar Plus store.
