One could call La Paz Restaurant owner Jose Elias Moreno crazy for joining the fray of an already-long list of eateries in the Twin Cities that specialize in Mexican food.
But what makes his venture unique is the fact it just opened at 500 N. Tower Ave. - in the midst of prime real estate for the Hispanic community.
"We felt this was a good place to open," Moreno said. "We opened in this location to become more familiar with the area, and to get to know our Hispanic population better."
Moreno has lived in Centralia since 1986. He says he has noticed the gradual increase in Hispanic businesses opening in the 500 and 600 blocks of North Tower, a direct indication of the Hispanic population increase in the Twin Cities over the past decade.
The latest data from the U.S. Census shows Centralia with a 10 percent Hispanic population, compared with 8 percent for Lewis County and 10 percent for the state as a whole.
"We've gotten to know the owners of most of the Hispanic shops in these blocks," said Moreno. "It's great to have a sense of community."
One such owner is Hilario Vargas, proprietor of El Amigo Tienda. Vargas has owned and operated the convenience store and bakery at 600 N. Tower for 17 years and says his dedicated customer base has helped other shop owners in the area.
"This was the first Mexican store for this area of the community," said Vargas. "We've brought a lot of people in, and we appreciate the people that keep us going every day."
Not only do those customers keep business at El Amigo and La Paz consistent, but they also contribute to a number of other shops and businesses in the North Tower vicinity. Hilario Vargas said the sense of community helps his business stay consistent, even during a turbulent economic period locally and nationally.
"It's a good neighborhood to be in," Vargas said. "We get a lot of people that come through here every day, and we're doing well with the way the economy is right now because of it."
Back at La Paz, Jose Elias Moreno is excited to join the Hispanic business community on North Tower Avenue.
He and his staff of two family members plan to continue serving a growing minority population, but also branch out to everyone else in the Twin Cities as well.
"We're here to serve the people of Lewis County the best that we can," Moreno said. "We're not just here to make good food, but we're here to make good friends with everyone too."
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Chris Brewer: (360) 807-8235
