Hispanic and Latin-Owned Businesses in Downtown Phoenix

The Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center (ALAC) is a coalition of Latino artists and art organizations that celebrate and promote the Latino presence in Arizona through education and advocacy. A first-of-its-kind in Arizona, it serves as a beacon of cultural and artistic expression through art exhibits, film, theater, presentations, lectures, live performances and literary readings.

ALAC is made possible through a dynamic team of dedicated individuals (pictured: left to right) Monica Villareal – Resident Artist, Cathy Garcia – Resident Artist Clothing Designer, Christine Garcia – ALAC & ABS Staff, Roman Reyes – Resident Artist & Latino USA Director, Elizabeth Toledo – Executive Director & Artist, Beto Marquez – Resident Artist, Victor Ramirez – Resident Artist & Production, Gil Bivens – Operations & ABS President.

Casa de Julia was inspired by the beloved memory of Owner & Founder Yasmine Rubio’s grandmother. Every detail of the space honors the beauty of Mexican heritage and the cherished memories she carries from her childhood. As a proud Mexican American woman with deep roots in the culture, Yasmine grew up listening to her mother and grandmother in the kitchen, learning traditions that were passed down with every meal.

Stephanie Vasquez is a Latina entrepreneur, public speaker, and educator who founded Fair Trade Café in 2007. It is now the longest-standing Latina-owned cafe in the city, with culture woven into every part of the space—from the coffee they serve to the art and music that fills the area. Fair Trade proudly sources their espresso and cold brew beans directly from farmers in Nayarit, Mexico, building relationships that ensure both quality and integrity.

Veanney Hurtado started The Scookie Bar with Laura Browder as a mobile food truck that hit the streets of Phoenix in 2016. Since then, they’ve moved the “build-your-own” deep-dish skillet cookie, or “scookie” business,” to a brick-and-mortar location in The Churchill. As an LGBTQ+ and Latina-owned business, The Scookie Bar has deep roots within the community and frequently pops up at local events around the city.

Edson Madrigal is the face behind this popular Mexican eatery, located in Hotel San Carlos. Céntrico offers traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist.

From the moment you walk through the doors of Céntrico, you can feel the elements of Edson’s culture and the home he grew up in through the aroma of chiles roasting in the kitchen, the music his mom used to blast on Saturday mornings, and the classic films from Mexico’s golden era playing in the background.

Bradley and Everardo Chavez are the brothers and co-owners behind the Heard Building, a beautifully restored historic landmark that offers eight floors of private office space for rent and shared workspaces. Within their business, Bradley and Everardo incorporate their heritage into the brand and support other Latino-owned businesses. In the community, they engage in local events, collaborate with organizations that uplift Hispanic voices, and give back through initiatives that foster unity and opportunity.

This local taqueria combines both culinary and visual arts to create a homage to Chef Suny’s heritage with a concise menu of tacos, vegetables and beverages. Taco Chelo is named after Chef Suny’s mother Consuelo, nicknamed “Chelo,” who has a huge influence on his cooking style.

Gennaro Garcia is the owner of Taco Chelo, and also an acclaimed international artist, taquero de corazón and winemaker. Gennaro spends most of his time between his art studios in Mexico and USA. His love for Mexican food stems from growing up in his parents’ restaurant kitchens in Mexico.

Daniel Castro (left) and Johnny De Luna (right) were inspired to open Sana Sana Cerveceria by their culture, upbringing, and family. Sana Sana is full of cultural influence: Chicano murals on the exterior walls, a mural of their grandparents in a lowrider on the inside, and a bar top painted like a 1960s lowrider. The duo built the brewery to feel like walking into your abuelita’s house and a lowrider show at the same time — warm, familiar, but also proud, and unapologetically cultura.

Zarco Guerrero is a celebrated multi-media artist, deeply rooted in Arizona’s Chicano and Indigenous cultural traditions. As the co-founder and President of Cultural Coalition, a nonprofit organization he established with Carmen Guerrero in 1996 to promote and preserve Latino, Latiné, and Indigenous arts and culture in Arizona, he has spent over five decades creating transformative public art—especially masks, puppets, and performances rooted in Latino and Indigenous heritage.

Through his work, Guadalajara art becomes a bridge—preserving ancestral traditions while fostering cultural pride and connection across Arizona communities.

Tacos Calafia’s founder, Adolfo Torres (pictured on the right), has the taqueria business in his blood. Growing up, his parents owned a taqueria in the busy and colorful streets of Tijuana, Mexico. Adolfo learned the business working during weekends as a kid with his father. After starting Tacos Calafias in Peoria, expanding into Downtown Phoenix was a priority for Adolfo and for his close friends Leo Vazquez and Wendy Gonzalez, who opened and run that location.

Everything in this restaurant is designed to feel as close to Mexico as possible. The food is 100% authentic Mexican street tacos, the kind you’d find on a busy street corner. They use Mexican beer to support Mexican brands, and source all of the meats, produce, spices and packaging from Hispanic-owned vendors.

Carol Missett opened Cataleya’s Nail Salon & Boutique in Downtown Phoenix with a vision to create space where culture and luxury coexist. She celebrates her Latina heritage daily at the salon through its culturally-inspired design, music, bilingual service, and the way her team welcomes people as familia. On the boutique side, she partners with multiple small businesses—many of them local, Latina-owned, and community-rooted.

“This business was never about just me—it’s about all of us. I want the story we tell to reflect the collective effort and spirit behind Cataleya’s.” (Carol Missett)

Pictured (left to right): Saundra Garcia – Owner of Suenos De Saundra, Dalila Varela – Nail Technician, Yolanda Trujillo – Owner of Viva Beauty, Ximena Salinas – Nail Technician, Shane Farmer – Owner of Power to Change Art.

Mural by @lamorena_art and @coloring__da_world

Oly Salgado is the co-owner of Turquoise Wine Bar’s first franchise location, which recently opened in Roosevelt Row. After 30 years in finance, she followed her passion for community and connection—discovering Turquoise’s warm, welcoming atmosphere as a patron and choosing to bring that same charm to her neighborhood. Together with her husband Jesse, Oly is dedicated to creating a wine bar where people feel at home, friendships are made over boutique pours, and fun is always on the menu.

This South American eatery, owned by Julie and Fabian Ocampo, brings flavors from Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Argentina. The menu includes tapas style plates, giving everyone an opportunity to explore all of the Latin flavors. Each visit offers an experience of the warmth of the Ocampo family’s hospitality, combined with the bold and enticing tastes that Latin America has to offer.

Local art curator Adrian Garcia first launched Family First Fridays at the Arizona Center in October of 2024. Since then, this monthly event has taken off in popularity, inviting local artists, creatives, and families to gather and connect over a shared love for art. Adrian shares his culture through live painting performances, music and dance. Through his artistic approach, he includes images of beautiful memories, moments and motifs of his Mexican culture.

Pablo “SadBoy” Sapien was born in Phoenix to a Mexican immigrant mother and father in 1984. Since he could hold a crayon, he showed a lot of interest in art and design. In early 2023, Pablo opened up his own tattoo studio in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. Whether you’re looking for a custom art piece or something from a pre-drawn flash book, you will be given an experience that will live on as long as your tattoo.

Founded in 1975, Xico Inc. is one of oldest ethnic arts organizations in the country, and is a leading organization promoting Latino and Indigenous culture. Nadia Rivera, Xico’s Interim Executive Director, contributes to the organization’s goal of advancing the quality, visibility and appreciation of Latino and Indigenous culture through the transformative power of art and artistic expression.

Jesús Rodríguez is the founder and owner of El Zaguán Bistro, a vibrant, family-run Mexican restaurant that opened in Downtown Phoenix in late 2021. His culinary path began with a converted fire truck food-truck venture called Red Fire Cookery in 2019. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Jesús continued cooking—from home and through his local kombucha brand—until fate led him to a Downtown space that became El Zaguán. Through his food and hospitality, he offers a place that’s deeply rooted in Mexican tradition, community, and the warmth of home.

Chris Figueroa is excited to grow Golden Oak Barbecue & Taproom in Downtown Phoenix through introducing guests to new menu items in addition to traditional barbecue offerings. Chris’ Hispanic background is Peruvian, and he plans to incorporate cuisine that honors that heritage. Golden Oak will offer Texas-style brisket to respect Chris’ experience in St. Louis, but also papa a la huancaina, one of his favorite dishes growing up.

Rosaura “Chawa” Magaña is a first-generation Mexican-American entrepreneur, and the proud founder and owner of Palabras Bilingual Bookstore, Downtown Phoenix’s only bilingual bookstore and cultural sanctuary. 

Inspired by a transformative encounter with Librería Donceles, a traveling Spanish-language bookstore installation, she launched Palabras in 2015, starting with just five books. Today, it’s a vibrant, community-driven space—a bookstore, gallery, workshop venue, and mutual-aid garden all in one—committed to elevating BIPOC voices, fostering belonging, and healing through storytelling, connection, and creative expression.

René Andrade is the award-winning chef and owner behind Bacanora and Huarachis Taqueria in Downtown Phoenix. Drawing from his roots in Nogales, Sonora, he champions authentic Sonoran cuisine—cooked over a wood-fired grill and infused with cultural pride. His dedication to heartfelt simplicity and local ingredients earned him the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest. Through his restaurants, Andrade brings a modern ode to tradition, offering memorable dining experiences that are equal parts soulful and celebratory.

Michael Castillo, Martin Hurtado, and Martin Lopez are the entrepreneurial trio behind Miel de Agave, a modern Mexican concept that first opened its doors in Downtown Phoenix in 2023. Their concept fuses elevated regional flavors—like Sonoran-style angus beef and short rib birria—with a bold, stylish ambiance.

Juan Francisco Cornejo Sr. and Juan Francisco Cornejo Jr. are the father-and-son duo behind Taco Boy’s, a Sonoran-style taco spot that has quickly become a local favorite since opening in 2019. With mesquite-charcoal grills, homemade tortillas, and family-rooted recipes, they bring the warmth and flavor of a Sonoran backyard cookout to Roosevelt Row. Their authentic, spirited approach and mouthwatering dishes earned them Phoenix New Times’ “Best Father-Son Duo” honor in 2020.

Jorge and Jesus Ruiz, two brothers with humble beginnings, are the dynamic duo behind The Taco Spot, a fast-growing birria-focused Mexican restaurant chain with a location now in Downtown Phoenix. Known for their signature birria tacos and creative menu offerings, the Ruiz brothers have turned a small startup into a celebrated local chain with a passionate fanbase and rapidly growing footprint.

Co-owners Elsa & Rodrigo Rodriguez are invested in bringing Jalisco flavors to Downtown Phoenix. Provecho offers simple yet flavorful food of the earth. COMIDA DE LA TIERRA! “Comida de mi Tierra” signifies food from my earth, REAL food. Provecho focuses on creating food that bonds people, crosses cultures, and offers a unique opportunity to meet new people and share experiences.

Aseret Arroyo is the co-owner and creative collaborator of Chilte, a dynamic modern-Mexican restaurant inside the Egyptian Motor Hotel. In 2020, she partnered with then-fiancé (now husband) Lawrence “LT” Smith to open a modest pop-up tent at Valley farmers markets. Chilte was born from her Sinaloan heritage and LT’s culinary ambition, and has since evolved into a national standout—earning accolades from Bon Appétit and Esquire in 2023.

Tacos Los Vales is a family-run taco stand that has expanded into a full-service eatery, offering authentic Mexican recipes passed down through generations. Their menu features traditional favorites such as asada, adobada, and birria tacos. This beloved local eatery recently opened a second location near Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix.