After celebrating their 10th year anniversary in December, Reading’s popular Latino soul restaurant, Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe is expanding with a stand at the Shillington Farmers Market. The stand will be serving a select “best of” menu from their downtown restaurant.
With a large crowd lining each side of the market aisles, owner of Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe, Johanny Cepeda accepted a plaque from the Grater Reading Chamber Alliance president Randy Peers. To officially open the stand Cepeda’s daughter Enitch cut the ribbon.
“I want to thank everyone in this room for making a difference and impact in our lives, business, and community. Thank you to my family for the patience. This is about building, bonding, exploring culture and enjoying great food. There’s a real sense of community here and we’re grateful to make this our new home.” Said Cepeda during the ribbon cutting.
“We want to bring a little bit of our Latin American flavor to the market” Cepeda said. With their main restaurant located in downtown Reading, Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe is a family business that specializes in comfort food and the ‘home-away-from-home’ community dining experience.
Zach Bortz, Owner of Iron Remodeling and Construction gave us a little insight on how the new stand was built. “We talked about several ideas, but in the end we put together a nice modern theme with a terracotta vibe.” With a crew of four Bortz constructed the stand in about a weeks time.
To celebrate the occasion Cepeda and her family gave the hungry crowd free sample plates of Rice and Beans, Roast Pork and Mac & Cheese. Plus a delicious Tres Liche Cake topped with fruit.
At fist Cepeda wasnt sure the Farmers Market would be a good fit. Her main concern was the expense involved in setting up the stand. But after a few weeks she received a call from Jobany Jio Bedoya, Small Business & Latino Outreach Coordinator from GRCA about an opportunity at the Market. During her initial visit she was shown a corner full of equipment all ready to help her get to work.
“I was so happy to see the stand had a stove, deep fryer, and refrigerator, it gives us the boost we needed to get started here”. In addition to the equipment, Cepeda is also happy to partner with neighbor stand ‘Hartranft’s Poultry & Seafood’ for use of their rotisserie oven. “Our goal is to reach a whole new dynamic of people here in Shillington” Cepeda said.
Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe is located in the Market across from Adelphia Seafood and is open (along with the rest of the market) Thursday & Friday 7am – 7pm, Saturday 7am- 4pm.
