Marta was born in Zacatecas, Mexico.

She has lived in Bloomington since January 1997.

She opened the Mexican store “El Norteño” on May 20, 2000.

Why did you open the store?

“When we came to Bloomington the Latino population was growing, and we were always interested in the possibility of starting a business here, we saw that Kroger and Marsh sold Mexican products so we thought that we should open a Mexican store which is what was missing here in Bloomington. Above all so that Mexicans here in Bloomington can go to a place and see familiar products and enter a store that is truly Mexican. In a place that makes them feel good and where they can talk. We put the television up with Spanish channels so that customers come to sit a while, drink a pop and watch television a while in Spanish.”

Latino men in the community

“Many Latinos come and tell me their problems and I listen to them…I simply listen to them because I know that many of them are in need of someone to hear them, because the majority of the Mexicans here in Bloomington are young men, not like older men in other parts where they have their families…here the young men are all alone and they came to find a better life and the majority of them are men that do want to work.”