Every business has its story, but a family business in Coloma that has not only survived, but thrived is expanding to both sides of the street in that community’s central business district in a heartwarming success that keeps marching forward.
When the Romero Family was looking for an investment opportunity in Michigan’s Great Southwest, they landed in downtown Coloma. Back then, it was just a place. Now, it’s a place they call home.
It was in 2013 that Federico and Maira Romero opened El Asadero, a restaurant featuring a mix of delicious Mexican and Colombian cuisine. As the business grew, they added a walk-up window to include fruit, ice cream and a variety of snacks for their on-the-go customers. Tragically, a fire at the restaurant in 2018 destroyed their business kitchen and the apartment they were living in. During the three months it took them to rebuild, they were sent numerous messages from customers and fellow business owners offering a helping hand to get them back in operation. That was when they knew Coloma was truly where they wanted to be for many more years to come.
The Romero’s purchased a new home for their family in downtown Coloma that year, where they are raising their three children, two of which are employees of the business. James Polashak, Mayor of the City of Coloma, says “I am glad they chose to invest in Coloma, where we have a strong family-owned and operated community. They operate a great restaurant, get involved with community and treat their customers like family.”
Last year, in 2019, they purchased the former Shingle Diggins restaurant at 147 North Paw Paw Street, and Federico immediately got to work on renovating both the building’s façade and its interior.
Their new restaurant, Las Magonadas, named after a popular Mexican frozen treat, is set to open on Sunday, March 8th, 2020. The concept for the new venture is to expand their fruit, ice cream, and snack business into a local hangout for the community. Jonathan Romero, the oldest son says, “Having a space to socialize, enjoy a frozen dessert, or gather to do homework year around is needed in my home town.”
Dubelsa Mata-Garcia, Business Development Counselor at the Womens Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance says, “Working with the Romero family has been exciting,” and adds, “By investing and growing their business, they add value to the community, and create growth opportunities for their staff.”
A ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Women’s Business Center will be held on March 8th at 10:00 am at Las Mangonadas located at 147 N. Paw Paw Street in Coloma. Customers will be able to sample their frozen yogurt and ice cream, with such flavors as: mango, tequila, rum raisin, coconut, cookies & cream, vanilla, lime, Ferrero Rocher, mint chocolate chip, guava, chocolate, strawberry and many more. You can find additional information on the new restaurant’s Facebook page at this link: http://fb.me/lasmangonadascoloma
As they did for the Romero family, Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services provides technical, business, and financial assistance to small businesses with an emphasis on income disadvantaged and women owned businesses. The Women’s Business Center and Cornerstone Alliance and the Microloan Program are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
