(hattiesburgamerican.com) Hispanic-owned restaurants and bars in Mississippi increased roughly from 44 in 1997 to 101 in 2002, said Lee Wentela, chief of the Economic Census Branch. Sales at those firms went from $8.6 million to $32.4 million – a 277 percent increase – in the same period. Nationally, Hispanic-owned establishments grew 38 percent.
The $32.4 million is about 15 percent of the $213 million in reported earnings for Hispanic-owned businesses in Mississippi in 2002, the latest figures available.
Nationwide, Hispanic business have become the largest minority business community with nearly 1.6 million firms pumping $221.9 billion into the U.S. economy, the SBA reported. In Mississippi, there are 1,327 Hispanic-owned businesses compared to 25,004 African-American-owned firms earning $1.3 billion, the 2002 Survey of Business Owners showed.
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Soletai Castro, 24, a MIRA receptionist who is a native of Mexico, said her parents own the Jerusalem Cafe, a Mediterranean eatery in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood, and El Torero in Flowood. Both opened within the last five years.
She recalls only two or three Mexican restaurants when she moved to the area six years ago, and says there is now new competition. El Torero caters to a more American palate, she said. “American people don’t eat really spicy food.†(more…)
I was shocked to hear from my mom that her home town in South Carolina had received a huge influx of Mexicans over the past few years. I guess I was shocked because growing up, that town was as Black as Black gets for the most part. It’s going to be interesting seeing the change in that town whenever I make the time to visit.
