Hispanic business owners report little to no problems

Mi Pueblo manager wants to see more Hispanics open stores

November 23, 2007
BY MISHELE WRIGHT

Hispanic business owners in Grant County sometimes experience difficulty communicating with English-speaking customers, but most of them say it's not a serious problem.

Joaquin Mendez, manager at Mi Pueblo, 406 E. Fourth St., said sometimes customers have a hard time understanding some of his employees because of their accents.

"It's difficult when you have to translate everything you say," he said. "We have to translate to Spanish."

Fernando Ugalde, manager at Los Nopales, 1510 W. Braewick Drive, said a language barrier is rarely a problem at his restaurant, which opened in June.

"It's kind of rare because most of the people who work here speak English," he said. "The waitresses and waiters are able to speak English and understand English. Some of the younger customers don't understand them."

When a customer is unable to understand his waiter, the waiter usually gets Ugalde, who acts as the translator between the customer and waiter.

Business booms

Even though language can sometimes be a hindrance for Hispanic business owners, the businesses are well-received by community members in Grant County.

Ugalde said it is a good place for business.

"There's a lot of people and a lot of small, little towns around," he said. "It's growing."

Although Ugalde receives many Hispanic customers at Los Nopales, he said he receives positive feedback from almost all of his customers.

"I get very good comments from the customers," he said. "They like the food and the building, and they say the people who work here are very friendly."

Roy Pena, owner of RP's Pub, 3202 S. Washington St., has loyal customers who have been coming to his bar since he's owned it.

Pena, who was born and raised in Marion, has owned the pub for the past 3½ years, and it had been his dream to own the bar for seven years before that, he said. After working at General Cable for 16 years, Pena used his 401(k) savings to make a down payment on the bar.

Because he was friends with the previous owner who even helped bartend for him, Pena was able to interact with the regular customers. He said the same customers continued coming in after he took over the pub. Most of the customers are non-Hispanic, he said.

"I'm glad I could be a bar owner," he said. "You get headaches every now and then, but it's great. I love to be meet new people and be around the public. We just have a great time here. I like to meet new friends."

When Pena goes shopping, he said people often recognize him, and he likes the attention.

"I love to be in public, and when they recognize me it feels great," he said.

Looking ahead

Mendez said he would like to see more Hispanics start businesses in the county, and he would especially like to see more employers in general.

"It's not popular," he said. "I'd like to see more. We have a little more than last year."

Pena said he likes seeing Hispanic people in the community open businesses, including Mi Pueblo, La Charreada and La Poblanita grocery store.

"Those are Mexican stores and restaurants, and that's good because a lot of people like Mexican food," he said.

He also would like to see more Hispanic businesses, he said.

"There's not a lot of people with the funds to open up a business or know how to," he said. "But those who want to, I hope their dream comes true."

Ugalde said he would like to see Hispanics open a wholesale store that sells clothes, shoes and other items from Mexico. He doesn't like to travel to Indianapolis or Chicago to purchase those items, he said.

"I would be happy to see more Hispanic businesses, but it's not going to work because there are not many Hispanic people here," he said. "It's not like Chicago."

Source: Chronicle-Tribune