A recent addition to Main Street is serving a little Mexican spice and has sold out every weekend since its opening.
Las Delicias Helados y Paletas, a Mexican ice cream shop, opened its doors for business at 837 W. Main St. March 27.
This family-owned business offers smoothies, snacks, popsicles and a wide variety of homemade ice cream flavors.
“The ice cream is freshly made almost every Tuesday and we get sold out every weekend, and about every two days we have fresh juices, a variety of fruits and vegetables, smoothies and milkshakes,” Vega said. “Everything is made from scratch.”
Jenni Vega runs the business with her husband Carlos, in addition to her cousin Mary and her husband Ismeal.
The owners said the location on Main Street was ideal.
“We were looking for something cheaper because all of the other rents were so high,” Vega said. “The location is great because we have people coming from downtown.”
Some of the more popular items on the menu by the customers are fresh fruit with chili, salt and lemon, and mango smoothies, Vega said.
For the customers, Vega said she believes that the overall atmosphere of the shop is friendly.
“We want people to feel like they’re home, or in Mexico,” she said.
Students say they like the idea of a place that displays culture and diversity.
“I think it’s a good idea to open it in Peoria because it would help promote cultural variety in our community, which is something that I think we need more of,” said junior nursing major Kaitlyn Kosman. “Plus, college students might be more open-minded to trying foods that they are not completely familiar with, so it is a smart move to put it near campus.”
Some students, including junior television arts major Brigid Presecky, said they were visiting the shop for first time and that it was a positive experience.
“It is very unique from other ice cream places around here, even back home by me,” she said. “I would definitely go back.”
Presecky said she thinks that because many students do not have a car at school, the closeness will give students more options when looking for things to do off-campus.
“It’s easily accessible to students here because it’s only a few minutes’ walk from Bradley,” she said.
