Show Your Support During Hispanic Heritage Month
We've rounded up a few of our favorite Latinx-led small businesses to inspire you to get out and explore.
4 Min Read
4 Min ReadAs summer winds down, it’s a great time for all of our US guests to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on September 15 and will end on October 15 this year. Many libraries, museums, and other cultural organizations are hosting events and exhibitions centered around Latinx culture.
Anyone staying in one of our comfortable furnished apartments in New York City can head to Manhattan’s El Museo del Barrio to explore the city’s Caribbean and Latin cultural roots. (Please note that proof of vaccination is required for museum entry.) Los Angeles is the setting for the Museum of Latin American Art, which reopened to the public in July and is hosting events all month long. There’s also the venerable Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, DC, the oldest museum of modern and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art in the United States.
Of course, visiting a museum isn’t the only way to show your support during Hispanic Heritage Month. You still have plenty of time to patronize Latinx-led and owned small businesses throughout the country.
We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites to inspire you to get out and explore your new hometown.
Austin
Do you love tacos? (Do we even have to ask?) Some of Austin’s most delicious tacos come from chef Josie Paredes’s food trucks. She’s a celebrated, Mexican-American chef with more than 30 years of professional culinary experience, and has embraced the truck as taqueria concept so that more people than ever can try her inventive creations. Check out @lasirenalft and @lafantabuloustacos on Instagram to try Josie’s cuisine for yourself.
Boston
Luis Espinoza, one of the cofounders of Beantown’s Roundhead Brewery, got his start in business at his family’s bakery in Peru. When he and Craig Panzer founded their brewery in 2017, Espinoza was able to put his experience in a commercial bakery into practice. Today Roundhead has four different brews on offer, as well as “occasional” beers like Paid Time Off, a creamy mango IPA.
Chicago
Chilam Balam has been serving up gourmet Mexican small plates in Lakeview since 2016. The tiny eatery has an outsized reputation: it has made the Michelin Bib Gourmand list several years running. Chilam Balam is best experienced with a friend or two, since its small-plates menu lends itself to sharing. The restaurant has a BYOB policy, so be sure to pick up a six-pack or a bottle of wine on your way to dinner.
Denver
Caffeine addicts and shopaholics alike will adore Cabrona Coffee, Monica Villalobos’ coffee stand at the Domingos en Westwood farmer’s market each Sunday. Try the cajeta latte — made with espresso, cajeta, and steamed milk. There’s also the Mexican mocha, with ground Mexican chocolate as the star ingredient. The Domingos en Westood market is run by the Rise Westwood Collective, a group that focuses on BIPOC, Latinx and women-owned food businesses.
New York City
The only thing that’s better than the perfect cup of coffee is when it’s served up beside a great new book. You can get your caffeine fix with a dose of culture at Cafe Con Libros, a cafe and bookstore in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. Check out the latest staff picks or sign up for a monthly book subscription to their intersectional feminist book club.
Los Angeles
There’s something for everyone on your shopping list at Espacio 1839, a Boyle Heights store that sells a variety of accessories and clothing celebrating Latinx culture. You can pick out a stylish, tongue-in-cheek T-shirt for your next low-key occasion, or maybe a pin for your jean jacket.
San Francisco
One of San Francisco’s most beloved Mexican restaurlants is Loló, a Mission District eatery with an inspired cocktail menu. Loló is known for its tacos tropical, an enchanting mash-up of shrimp and jicama served with chipotle aioli and a fruity, tangy relish. The “al pastor” cauliflower tacos or flautas with potatoes and poblanos are perfect for vegetarians. You can eat outside or order delivery or take out.
Seattle
Tamales are a welcome addition to any day, and there’s no better place to get your fix in the Emerald City than Frelard Tamales. This Green Lake restaurant offers a variety of tamales — which can be ordered cooked or uncooked — as well as sides. The menu has extensive options for vegans and vegetarians. Anyone on a plant-based diet will want to try the vegan jackfruit tamales, which have a savory texture and unbeatable flavor. Freland Tamales offers free delivery, as well as pickup.
Washington, DC
Who doesn’t need a nice bottle of wine? Grand Cata, a wine shop located in DC’s historic Shaw negihborhood, carries a wide variety of wines from around the world. In addition to a bottle of red or white, the store offers Latin American pantry items selected by co-owners Julio Robledo and Pedro Rodríguez.
These are just a few of the Latinx-owned businesses you can support during Hispanic Heritage Month. Small businesses are the backbone of any city, and part of the fun of experiencing a new place is getting to know the coolest local spots.
Blueground chooses the most dynamic neighborhoods in our markets so that our guests can experience the best of local culture. Are you still renting the old-fashioned way? Find out more about the Blueground experience.
