Manuel de Paz has always loved cooking. His original dream was to return to Guatemala to open a business, but he ended up staying in the U.S., and opened Encuentro Latino. The diner has been in the same location since 2015.
- Encuentro Latino, a Guatemalan restaurant, has been in the same location in downtown Ypsilanti since 2015.
- The name translates to “Latin Gathering.”
- The restaurant has seen a decline in business in recent months, as many in the community have been intimidated by the presence of ICE officers.
Manuel De Paz created his diner, Encuentro Latino, with community in mind. The name translates to “Latin Gathering.”
“Well, that was the idea behind Encuentro Latino, so that a lot of people would gather here and have an experience here at the place,” he said. “It’s like when you go to meet someone and have a good time, right? And so I said, ‘What else?’ Let them have a good time and enjoy delicious food from our country, Guatemala.”
The restaurant has been in the same location in downtown Ypsilanti since 2015. It’s an area where many businesses have struggled to withstand the test of time, and of rising costs. A loyal customer base has kept Encuentro Latino in business.
One of De Paz’s very first customers was a family with two young children. The family still comes every week…