Mi Favorita Tienda gives Belgium a grocery

After years of living in Belgium without a local grocery store to buy Mexican products such as Jaritos soda, frijoles, canned salsas and dulces, Victor Maldonado decided to create a local option himself.

Maldonado and his wife Reyna Garcia opened Mi Favorita Tienda Mexicana in the former Mobil gas station at 106 N. Royal Ave. in July, bringing Belgium its only grocery store.

A former landscaping worker, Maldonado said he wanted to open his own market to provide the community with a local option for produce and other food items.

He noted that Belgium has long been without a grocery store, with the Belgium Village Market seeing a short run in the village before closing in 2008.

 “I’ve lived here for five years and I never saw any good grocery store here, so I was just thinking why not do something like this,” Maldonado said.

Maldonado said he hopes to cater to Mexican communities in Belgium, Port Washington and Fredonia with authentic goods while also giving those less familiar with Mexican cuisine the chance to try new dishes.

“Some people have been coming in and trying new things,” he said.

He’s even considering offering samples of products some people may be less familiar with to give them the chance to try them before purchasing them.

In the short time he’s been open, Maldonado said, customers have been thankful for an option that saves them from driving to stores in Port or Saukville.

“A lot of people are happy it’s open here because there’s not much around here,” he said.

He added that many customers appreciate that there is a place nearby to buy ethnic products like chicharrones or Takis chips that aren’t always stocked in other stores.  

Having worked for others for most of his career, Maldonado said, it feels good to be his own boss and have a business of his own.

“I have to try something, not always depend on somebody else,” he said. “At least try. If it works, good, but if it doesn’t you can try something else.”

Maldonado said he hopes to expand his business by offering U-Haul services and an international money transfer machine on site.

“That way people can come and send money to their families in Mexico,” he said.

Mi Favorita Tienda Mexicana shares space with a taqueria store that is currently closed, but Maldonado said he expects it to reopen at the end of September.

He hopes the restaurant will bring in additional business and potentially allow the store to share freezer space, which could allow the grocery to carry meats.

Maldonado said when he first opened the store, he carried a wide assortment of produce such as aloe, papaya, peppers and mangos, but has had to cut down his stock while waiting for business to pick up.