Occupation: Maria Martinez & her son, Brian Martinez, are the co-owners of the new upcoming La Mexicana Grocery Store and Taqueria located on 1701 2nd street suite 4 in Coralville, Iowa.
Background: Maria was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico. The city where the Chihuahua burrito originated and one of the many featured items on her menu. She grew up cooking alongside her mother and grandmother amid her family’s small eatery. Being introduced to cooking at a young age made her fall in love with culinary arts and inspired her to share her family’s culture with food. With La Mexicana being conveniently located on the Coralville strip, Maria hopes to promote her authentic culture with the surrounding IC community over delicious meals from her hometown.
How I got to Iowa City: After residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Maria moved to Iowa City for the abundant opportunities Iowa had to offer her family.
Why I decided to participate in the Welcoming Banner project: Maria chose to participate in the Welcoming Banner Project because she truly enjoys being an active leader in the Latino community. Since moving to Iowa City, Maria has been a big part of the Latino community. She enjoys volunteering at events such as the Latino Festival and getting involved with groups like the Colectivo de Mujeres en Negocio (Collective of Women in Business) and Ballet Folklorico Corazon Latino.
More about Maria: Maria’s most valued thing is family time. She loves spending her free time with her husband, Jorge Martinez, and her three sons, Brian, Christopher, and Jorge Jr. Martinez.
Bonus! Sneak Peek @ La Mexicana Restaurant opening: Be on the lookout for a GRAND OPENING sign on the Coralville strip, we look forward to serving you and sharing a wide variety of authentic Mexican dishes.