www.negociosnow.com
56 March 2023
Age: 36
Title: Owner
Organization: Salsas Family
Market
Born in Morelos, Cuernavaca,
Mexico, Laura Valle came to
Chicago at the age of 14. Her
parents had nothing and ne-
eded to work long shifts, lea-
ving her alone with her 8-year-
old sister and newborn boy.
Their salary was not enough
to support the family, so Valle
decided to help. She found a
part-time job in a grocery sto-
re where she met her future
husband.
Previously she owned the
successful restaurant Salsa's
Grill at 3808 W. Lawrence Ave.
It was known for pozole and
tamales, but the stress and
time needed to run a restau-
rant made her consider lea-
ving the industry. She did not
want her son to have the same
memories she had, of long
days waiting for her mom to
come back from work. Valle
remembers how her mother
was never able to ask for a day
off or stay at home if she was
feeling sick.
Someone offered to buy the
restaurant, and she jumped at
the opportunity because she
had already been thinking of
opening a grocery store. When
she opened Salsas Family Mar
-
ket, her goal was to start loo-
king for more staff, especially
other women, and give them
the opportunity for a part-ti-
me or full-time job within wal-
king distance of their home.
Thanks to her family, friends
and employees Valle is grate-
ful to share this journey with
them. They are the reason why
she has never thought of gi-
ving up.
She started the store with
only herself and her husband.
After two years in business,
they were distributing home-
made salsas to six different
stores and had hired five wo-
men with flexible hours and
days. Her parents also help
and now manage their own
schedule.
WORDS OF WISDOM:
"I
f you want something you never
had, you have to do something
you've never done."
Laura Valle
Creating a
better space
for women
