TAMPA, Fla. — There are 78 pueblos, or municipalities in Puerto Rico, yet, many locals say there is seemingly a 79th — right in the heart of Tampa.
- Puerto Rican food truck owners create hidden gem in Tampa
- Located on Lois Ave. you'll find Puerto Rican delicacies and art
- New mural has piqued attention of Tampa Puerto Ricans
You’ll find it nestled in an industrial area on Lois Avenue, where food trucks and a giant Puerto Rican flag mural converge to create a vibrant haven for the Puerto Rican community and anyone else who wants to enjoy a slice of the island.
“They come here, and it’s like their second home now,” said Damaris Torres, who owns one of the food trucks, La Fiebre Del Sabor Criollo.
She operates alongside her friend and fellow food truck owner Mariluz Vazquez, who owns Chinchorrear Es La Que Hay.
Their authentic Puerto Rican delicacies draw hundreds to the area each weekend.
The women capture the flavors of the island with dishes like alcapurrias, ground beef-stuffed yucca, and plantain fritters; mofongo, seasoned mashed plantains; and bacalaitos, salted cod fritters.
“It's cause of the flavor. If there’s no spice and flavor, I don’t think the business would do good,” Vazquez said.
The two friends first found success with food trucks in the Orlando area before expanding to Tampa last February.
“We decided on Tampa because there are a lot of Puerto Ricans here. Thank God, it’s gone really well for us,” Torres said.
They’ve built a steady customer base in the last twelve months. But despite their success, they felt like something was missing — enter Ocala based muralist Jean Carlos Roman Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, who goes by "The Shout of the Ink" online, has traveled across the U.S. painting Puerto Rican themed murals.
Torres and Vazquez decided that’s exactly what their little corner of Puerto Rico needed.
So they reached out to Gonzalez:
“I told him, ‘I have a trailer and I need you to put a design or a mural on it,'” Torres said.
Within two days, Gonzalez had painted a giant Puerto Rican flag on the portable building next to the food trucks.
“I was like, 'oh my god, it turned out beautifully.' It really did,” Torres said.
Puerto Rican flag murals have proved to be quite popular on social media.
Take La Puerta de la Bandera, for instance. The giant door, emblazoned with the flag, is one of the hottest selfie spots in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Or the massive, three story flag painted on the side of new Puerto Rican restaurant La Placita in Miami.
Torres and Vazquez both say their sales have increased since the mural went up three weeks ago.
“It's good to know that us Puerto Ricans can come together and share good times with each other, and we’re supporting each other,” Gonzalez said.
In the age of Instagram and social media, the mural has piqued the attention of the Tampa Puerto Rican community.
Hungry customers snap photos while they wait for their food.
“It’s a source of pride for us because it represents us, and I love the ambiance here with all the Puerto Rican food, and it all just comes together nicely,” Gonzalez said.
The food trucks and mural are located at 4722 N Lois Avenue in Tampa.