PILSEN — In the front window of Mestiza Shop, a colorful spread greets passersby: Coffee mugs read “Chisme and Chill” and “Empower Mujeres,” a tote boldly displays “¡Viva la Vida!” and Danny Trejo’s Cantina book offers recipes — while mini papel picado flutter on the display.
Mestiza Shop, a gift boutique at 1444 W. 18th St. in Pilsen, is Latina- and LGBTQ+-owned. It’s operated by married couple Sugeiri Martinez and Lorena Almanza, who opened Mestiza in 2004, inspired by the culture and creativity of Pilsen.
At Mestiza, Martinez and Almanza curate a distinctive mix of jewelry, clothing, accessories, home goods, stationery and handcrafted items from local artisans. Over the years, they’ve built up a loyal following — and found their own path to growth just as the shop has.
The two women opened Mestiza in 2004, but they closed that first location in 2009 to focus on online sales and participate in local art markets. They said they found people missed them and returned with their Pilsen location in 2017.
“We were motivated to open a physical location again after doing markets and having people ask, ‘Where’s your shop?’ or say, ‘We remember your shop,’” Martinez said. “A lot of people in this community, especially, remembered us from our original location. As we started seeing more success at markets, we felt like it was the right time to reopen.”
Since reopening Mestiza Shop, Martinez and Almanza’s mission has been to contribute to the Pilsen community and support local artisans in starting and growing their own brands.
When the duo first opened their shop, coming out to their families and discussing their LGBTQ+ identities was still taboo, Martinez said. The two also kept their identities private at their business.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized marriage between same-sex couples in 2015. Martinez and Almanza soon got married — and decided to share their identities with their families and publicly at Mestiza.
“Once we were able to legally get married, we were able to kind of come out, even in our shop. Before, I don’t think we would have necessarily identified publicly as queer, but as soon as we got married, we did,” Martinez said. “The journey for our shop was parallel to our personal journey because, at the same time, we were able to come out to our families. We felt stronger, and they started accepting us more as well.”
Mestiza includes many LGBTQ+ Pride items: books, mugs and even papel picado that says “Pride.”
Many of the items also reflect Latino culture. Almanza said items are intentionally chosen to reflect what the two love, blending pieces that evoke a strong reaction with more modern items.
“Some of the items we carry at Mestiza Shop are things we love and grew up with — like our concha pillows,” Almanza said. “We always started our mornings with cafecito and a conchita, those classic Mexican pastries. That’s why we try to bring in items that take us back to our childhood.”
Rooted in humor, heritage and hometown pride, Mestiza Shop’s collection of T-shirts, signs and stickers turns everyday Latino family sayings into bold cultural statements. With slogans like “Hay comida en la casa,” “Papi Chulo” and “Viva La Mujer,” Martinez and Almanza celebrate the quirks, love and language of growing up Latino, inviting customers to laugh and reminisce.
“People just love it, and we love it too, because it’s true. That’s what we always heard from either our aunts, our moms and our parents,” Almanza said.
Another standout detail is the presence of signs inspired by the TV series “The Bear,” featuring phrases like, “Yes, chef.”
Mestiza Shop was featured in a season three episode of “The Bear,” the award-winning FX on Hulu drama that chronicles a team working to turn their Chicago beef stand into a Michelin-starred restaurant. The Mestiza crew was contacted by the show’s production company, which filmed a scene at the shop last year.
“Some people come in as fans of the show and say, ‘Oh, that’s interesting — you have stuff from ‘The Bear,’” Martinez said. “Sometimes they’ve seen the episode, and sometimes they haven’t. If they have, they say, ‘I need to go back and rewatch it.”
In addition to curating items personally, Martinez and Almanza often hear from local vendors who want to sell their products through Mestiza. As a result, the store features a variety of items from local artists.
“We curate items from Mexico — mostly from Guanajuato, where Lorena is from; her family is from there too. Whenever we visit, we’ll pick up a cross, a sacred heart. Those are the kinds of things you’ll see in our own homes, and we bring them here,” Martinez said.
Mestiza Shop’s partners include Werk Mija and Mi Madre Lo Hizo, and the artists’ work has played a role in the business’s success.
“When we all work together to uplift each other, we elevate the entire Latino community,” Martinez said.
Mestiza Shop is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 1444 W. 18th St. You can find more information and items for sale on the shop’s website.
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