Guadalupe Antonio and Ramiro Vasquez with La Oaxaqueña Bakery in Oklahoma City

Ramiro and Guadalupe are a couple and they run La Oaxaqueña Bakery in Oklahoma City. Ramiro is originally from a small town called San Pablo Huixtepec. Guadalupe is originally from a small town called Ciénega de Zimatlán. Both towns are located in the state of Oaxaca. They've been living in Oklahoma for almost sixteen years.

I asked Guadalupe if the she sees the bakery as the manifestation of the American dream. “Yes” she replied. Her husband told me that even though things look good right now, the start was a struggle. “This is our fifteenth year, when we started, our daily sales were about ten dollars. It was a long process but worth it in the end. We're now seeing the fruits of our labor.”

The concept of the restaurant is to bring a little piece of Southern Mexico to Oklahoma City, specially from the state of Oaxaca. He told me that this area of the United States had very few to no individuals from Oaxaca. “People oftentimes feel nostalgic when they visit us, every year we have pan de muerto, rosca de reyes, chocolate, and churros”

Guadalupe Antonio and Ramiro Vasquez with La Oaxaqueña Bakery in Oklahoma City, OK. November 9, 2014

Guadalupe Antonio and Ramiro Vasquez with La Oaxaqueña Bakery in Oklahoma City, OK. November 9, 2014

Cristina Hernandez with Rene's Restaurant and Bakery in Waco Texas

Cristina Hernandez is originally from Torreón Coahuila. There is a photo of El Cerro de la Silla, which is a well known hill in Monterrey Nuevo León, displayed near the entrance. El Cerro de la Silla is also included in the hand lettered sign that announces the business. Cristina's husband is from Monterrey. They decided to include it at the restaurant as a way of remembering his hometown.

I asked her about how Rene's Restaurant and Bakery was founded and told me that it was bumpy road. She had associated with other friends in order to start it. However, the association did not work out. She ended up taking over the business and suggested that it was difficult. She said: “Luchando, luchando, hechandole ganas a eso venimos a este pais (struggling, struggling, keeping your hopes up, that's what we do in this country)” 

I asked her if she thinks of the Rene's Restaurant as the manifestation of the American dream. “Yes” she replied, “when you have the passion to get ahead in life you can make the American dream possible.”

Cristina Hernandez with Rene's Restaurant and Bakery in Waco, Texas. November 7, 2014

Diana Belmares serves food and takes care of customers at Rene's Restaurant and Bakery in Waco, Texas. November 7, 2014