More Than a Market, a Piece of Mexico in Las Vegas

Por

Angélica Simón Ugalde

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Publicado: 8/11/2024 · 4:34 p.m. MX | Actualizado: 8/11/2024 · 4:34 p.m. MX

Like any traditional Mexican street market, at “La Bonita” stores, customers can touch and pick their avocados and fruits or find damiana, horsetail, mullein herbs, and even corn husks for tamales.

“If a customer comes across the city, they should find what they’re looking for” — that’s the philosophy and key to the success of Javier Flores’ supermarket chain, known as Mr. Guau.

Each specialty store offering Mexican products receives an average of 25,000 visitors weekly.

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The first store opened its doors in 1991, and over 30 years later, Mr. Guau considers it a miracle that his family, once working daily to make ends meet, now employs over a thousand families.

“For any entrepreneur, it’s incredible to be a part of something that sustains so many families, that brings satisfaction and trust… it’s a miracle, something that feels big,” says Javier.

Everything for Everyone

Stepping into “La Bonita” is like entering Mexico, if only for a moment.

Traditional sweet bread, chiles, avocados, herbs, the butcher shop, beans, tamale husks, and warm tortillas—here, you’ll find everything, not just for the Mexican community.

In an interview with Antonio Anistro for El Heraldo USA, Mr. Guau shared that his customers also include Salvadoran, Honduran, Guatemalan, and Nicaraguan communities and “many Anglo, Filipino, and Asian customers who shop with us.”

Part of the charm, he explains, is that people can touch and choose: “They can say, ‘This one’s ready for tomorrow...’ This is the heart of a true supermarket, where people see the vibrant colors and feel the excitement. It’s the farmer’s work, getting up at dawn to ensure fresh produce arrives daily from California, Mexico, and many other places.”

Behind each product lies the hard work of hundreds of people—from farm laborers who start at three in the morning planting and harvesting to the transporters and sellers who make the magic happen: “...and then the product arrives at the most sacred place, the family table, where everyone gathers and says, ‘Let’s eat.’”

So, if you live in or are visiting Las Vegas, don’t miss “La Bonita Supermarkets,” one of Nevada’s most authentically Mexican markets.

Angélica Simón Ugalde