A Mexican-born local entrepreneur is bringing a taste of his homeland to Nipomo.

Bernardino Echeverría, 28, opened La Auténtica Michoacana about three months ago at 530 W. Tefft St.

A snack shop, the store in the Vons shopping center features ice cream and Mexican ice favorites with flavors that come from traditional Mexican recipes.

The ice cream and ice favorites, called “paletas” in Spanish, cost between $1.50 and $2.50 and include such flavors as tamarindo (made from a tropical fruit), pepino con chile (cucumber with chile powder), cantaloupe, guava and chongo (cheese).

In all, the shop has about 60 flavors for its paletas — including traditional American favorites such as chocolate, strawberry and vanilla.
Echeverría comes from a line of ice cream producers. Family members own seven shops in California, including his sister Marta’s business in Paso Robles.

“This type of store has a very strong tradition where I’m from in Mexico,” Echeverría said. “In fact, there is a place called Tocumbo where they have a paleta fair and people bring paletas from all over to try. There is a lot of history with that.”

His idea was to create a place where people can get an ice cream treat or a snack, like nachos. The store doesn’t sell full meals.
About 60 percent of customers are Hispanic and the other 40 are of other ethnicities, primarily white, Echeverría said.

By day, Echeverría works in the construction industry. When he is on a job, he comes to the shop about 4:30 p. m. and stays until closing at 9 p. m.

The store is open 10 a. m. to 9 p. m. seven days a week and when he’s not working construction, Echeverría’s often there all day.