Yohana Porras always wanted to open a grocery store like the ones she frequented growing up in Guatemala. The family-owned stores sold everything from groceries to medicine to homemade treats.
“This is kind of a dream that I’ve been working on for so many years,” Porras said. “But it’s really hard to do in California. So when we were planning to move here, the idea was like, you know, it’s time to start my own business.”
Porras and her husband moved to Indiana last year. In November, they opened Tienda y Panaderia Mi Guatelinda in Lawrence.
The store sells food, candy and other goods commonly found in Guatemala and other Latin American countries. Porras said it is important for people to buy what they are familiar with.
“I have a few gums right here in the front where people say, ‘Oh, I grew up with this. I want to show my kids!’” she said. “Things like that remind them of home.”
For Porras, her store is more than just a way to make money. She wants it to be a place where people can find community.
“It’s not just buying things, it’s having a connection and a relationship with the people,” she said. “Sometimes people come in sad, maybe mad, but you can catch up and you see at least a smile and say, ‘Hi, how are you? How you feel, or I hope you’re feeling better’ when they get medicine. It’s personal.”
She also wants to create trust with her customers. She’s already starting to get regulars. And while she doesn’t yet know them by name, she does recognize their faces. And if a person is short of some change, she’ll trust they will pay the difference next visit.
“It’s not gonna make me more rich or less poor,” Porras said. “Sometimes I completely forget, but they don’t. You can’t do that at a big store.”
Reaching the community
The store also sells baked goods from an outside company. Porras’ next goal is to add a kitchen to the store so she can make her own bread in-house.
“I always dreamed to have a place where the people can go and sit and drink the coffee,” Porras said. “When I started the store, I said if you get the bread, I give you a free coffee. I want the people to come and enjoy a coffee and get a bread, and they get they can have a conversation.”
The store also partners with a company that ships personal packages to Mexico or Central America and a money transfer service to help people send money internationally.
Porras’ daughter, Luz Tuchan, is proud of her mother and excited to see the business grow.
“It’s not like a big place full of employees,” Tuchan said. “It’s truly like she’s the owner, she’s the cashier, she’s the person in the back. She wears all the hats.”
She said Tienda y Panaderia Mi Guatelinda is about families helping families.
“It’s really just seeing her achieve her dream and staying true to our roots and our traditions,” Tuchan said. “And being able to reach people just like us, immigrants in the community that are always looking for food that is native to our land, is the best part.”
IF YOU GO
Tienda y Panaderia Mi Guatelinda is located at 4556 N. Shadeland Ave. The store is open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Sunday.
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Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.
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