Latino-owned food businesses open in Kalamazoo with help from new program

This story is part of Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. Visit swmichjournalism.com to learn more.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Even if you can’t smell the food in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood, you’ll surely spot Tacos El Jefe’s bright red food truck.

It represents the dream of immigrant Clado Velaques.

“It feels good to be an owner and moving forward,” said Valaques, 45, of his business, which is only a year old.

Velaques moved to the U.S. from Mexico nearly two decades ago, making a living by working in Mexican restaurants. He and his family moved to Kalamazoo two years ago.

Initially, he and his family sold homemade Mexican food, but Velaques knew he needed to go through the right channels to make his business legitimate.

“It was my dream to become my own boss,” he said.

He enrolled in El Concilio Kalamazoo’s Camino al Éxito program – which translates to “Road to Success.” This program supports Latinx small business owners looking to either start or strengthen their businesses. Instruction is offered both in English and Spanish.

“This is important because of the language barrier,” said Jesus Grillo, the Camino al Éxito coach. “It’s something that’s a problem for our community.”

Last year, the program had 109 participants. There were 38 businesses formed from this group, including Tacos El Jefe.

More than 50% of the businesses created were mobile food services. Others include home remodeling, janitorial services, jewelry making and cosmetics retailers.

“Many of these businesses start by selling food out of their house, which isn’t allowed,” Grillo said. “We work closely with the health department to get their proper license.”

Velaques said that was his main takeaway from the program.

“I learned about food trucks and how to properly sell food,” he said.

Last year, 90% of the participants were Latinx, with the other 10% from various backgrounds.

“This past year, it’s been good for us,” Velaques said. “We grew a lot.”

So much so, that his food truck is now his primary source of income. He just bought a second truck and hopes to eventually expand to a restaurant that he can leave to his daughters — and keep the family-run business in the family.

Tacos El Jefe has a number of offerings including tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas and more. Meat options include steak, chicken, sausage, shrimp and marinated pork, among others.

It’s one of a number of food businesses jumpstarted by the Camino al Éxito program.

Vida Dulce opened in October 2024 with help from the program.

The bakery sells a variety of handmade desserts, including elaborate cakes.

Another Kalamazoo business jumpstarted by the program is called Wurst of the West.

The new hot dog stand boasts “house-made condiments and creative twists.”

Boosting Latinx entrepreneurship was one of the main reasons the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce pushed for investment in the program.

“When our community is represented in local business, we create community, we help to create and help Michiganders to want to stay in the state,” said Kaylee Moreno Burke, senior director at West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “It also creates a job and that creates wealth for our families to have a livable wage to create a better future for themselves, for their children.

“So, it’s more than just bringing resources to a Latino-owned business.”

Burke wrote the grant application and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded WMHCC $2.5 million. That money was sub-granted to Latin Americans United for Progress in Holland, El Concilio in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses in Grand Rapids and the Urban League of West Michigan.

The goal is to close the equity gap in economic development, Burke said.

“There’s not a lot of access to economic development resources in the state of Michigan that is available in Spanish,” Burke said.

Burke also noted Latinos represent one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurial communities across the United States, as well as the fifth-largest economy.

“It’s very important for this community because they trust what we’re doing,” Grillo said, adding that El Concilio offers its program for free, while other programs can charge upwards of $2,000.

“El Concilio has been a strategic partner over the years and has been doing the work and building that relationship within their community,” Burke said. “They really are a pillar of the Kalamazoo community, supporting the Hispanic/Latino community.”

It’s helping entrepreneurs like Velaques see themselves on the road to success.

“We have to keep it up and keep doing what we’re doing, keep helping each other,” Velaques said.