Westchester’s growing Peruvian community has received a fillip with the opening of Inkaterra Market at the “Four Corners,” as the intersection of Central and East Hartsdale avenues in Hartsdale is known.
When store owners Victor Palomino and Yeny Espinoza came to the United States from Peru in the late 1990s, they said they “realized that one of the most meaningful things we could bring from our homeland was our food and culture.”
The couple, who have lived in Westchester County for more than 20 years, first thought of opening a market in 2012 at a time when they were starting their first company, Southern Star Peru LLC, a distributor of Peruvian products to restaurants and businesses.
“Opening a Peruvian market has been a longtime dream of ours,” Espinoza said. “We always knew there was a demand for Peruvian goods, especially with the fast-growing Peruvian population in New York, but finding the right site took time.”
However, as soon as they walked into the Hartsdale location, the couple said they knew it was the right one.
“We were lucky to have supportive friends who helped guide us through the process,” they added. “We’re so thankful for them.”
Not confined to Westchester, they are hoping Inkaterra will serve a large Latino community from all over the tristate area, “as well as anyone interested in experiencing the taste of Peru.”
Working directly with importers like InkaFoods and MiTierra to source their products, they offer a wide range of goods to help customers make authentic Peruvian dishes at home.
All in all, family-owned and -operated Inkaterra plans to stock more than 300 products, including fresh and frozen foods, cookies, candies, spices and assorted ingredients, along with favorite Peruvian drinks and sodas like InkaKola, Chicha Morada and Guaraná. Espinoza said that they will also carry items it would be hard to find elsewhere and emphasized that prices would be “economical.”
Asked whether they had enjoyed business support locally, the couple answered, “Absolutely.’ They had high praise for the hamlet of Hartsdale and town of Greenburgh. “The town has been incredibly encouraging. Our Town Supervisor (Paul J. Feiner) has even helped promote our store,” they said. “And the local community has welcomed us warmly, with open hearts and open minds, and we’re so grateful for their support.”
As Feiner himself said of Inkatrerra’s grand opening earlier this month: “I have never seen so much enthusiasm for a small business in my 34 years as town supervisor.”
As for advice for others looking to open a similar market, Palomino was forthcoming.
“Never give up,” he said. “The journey may be challenging, but every step is worth it in the end.”
Inkaterra Market is at 14-16 N. Central Ave. in Hartsdale. For more, call 914-258-4081.
