It’s October meaning we’re halfway through Hispanic Heritage Month! Though one month isn’t long enough to honor the impact that the Hispanic community has had, this is still a great opportunity to celebrate the hard work that the community does in Downtown Chula Vista. So, take the time to give extra love to local businesses that form the heart of the neighborhood and don’t miss out on the exciting events taking place this month.
Latine Owned Businesses
Downtown Chula Vista has a prominent Hispanic presence with several businesses owned and operated by entrepreneurial people looking to make an impact on the community with their offerings. These are just some of the many businesses that call the South Bay neighborhood their home.
After working for 15 years working as the Executive Chef of the US Navy, Mariana Cardenas needed a change, so she landed at The Balboa South. After only 4 months of working there, Mariana was offered the restaurant as a gift by the previous restaurant owners. Now as a restaurant owner, she goes above and beyond to give back to the community by raising money for school scholarships and hosting toy drives as well as serving up smiles with a side of a delicious burger.
In 2013, Chula Vista native Jose Barajas took a risk by creating a small home-based cake and dessert businesses called Mmm… Cakes. The risk soon paid off as Jose began to gain a steady following around San Diego County due to his extravagant, creative and unique cakes. Jose soon appeared in several TV competitions such as TLC’s ‘Next Great Baker’, Food Network’s ‘Cake Wars’ and ‘Holiday Gingerbread Showdown.’ Together with his family, Jose opened the first store front in Third Avenue serving cakes, desserts, coffee, and more!
As a self-made small-business owner, Sarah Iapala has taken great pride in serving the community through Hidden Beauty Salon. With over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, Sarah has developed a keen eye for style and has brought a unique perspective to her clients by incorporating the latest trends with her own technique. With the mission to make everyone feel fabulous, Sarah along with the rest of her team strive to bring out the unique beauty of each clients through top-notch hair services.
Los Cuates Mariscos has been known to the community as a staple restaurant in Downtown Chula Vista community for over 10 years. A restaurant ran by a father and two twin brothers, Cesar and Javi Corona learned all about the business from their father before he unfortunately passed away in 2020. Seeing many struggles ahead amidst the loss of their father and the start of the COVID pandemic, Cesar and Javi didn’t give up on keeping the restaurant thriving. After some renovations and hard work, the brothers were able to revamp Los Cuates Mariscos to have a modern look while still serving the delicious mariscos that the community is fond of.
Día De Los Muertos
To celebrate the cherished Mexican tradition and close out Hispanic Heritage Month, Downtown Chula Vista welcomes the community to the Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration on Saturday Oct. 28 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.! Watch as the neighborhood is converted into a cempacuchil filled celebration for the whole family to enjoy.
Taking place in the heart of the South Bay neighborhood, the Día De Los Muertos Celebration will feature a community altar, an altar contest, live music featuring Karlos Paez of B-Side Players, dance performances, vendors curated by Las Jefas Markets, a kid’s craft station, and themed photo opportunities throughout the neighborhood. Finalizing the event will be a special screening of Guillermo del Toro’s Book of Life that will be played in the Memorial Bowl starting at 7 p.m.
Though this is a light-hearted, family-friendly event, the meaning behind the holiday is still honored through the community altar. The community is encouraged to print a copy of pictures of their loved ones who have passed on and place it along with the other passed loved ones of the community, honoring the memories and celebrating the lives that once lived.
For the latest updates on Downtown Chula Vista, please visit us at DowntownChulaVista.com or follow us on Instagram @DowntownChulaVista, TikTok @DowntownChulaVista, Facebook @DowntownChulaVista, and Twitter @DowntownChula.
