La Michoacana Mexican Market & Restaurant

Liborio is another businessman who found opportunity in the Northland area's challenges. The availability or retail space created a prime opportunity for him to open another Latino grocery store were the former Sun TV store on Morse Road, a few blocks east of the former mall. His La Michoacana Fresh Market takes up 16,000 square feet, making it the largest in Alcauter's growing chain of Latino food stores. Opening 2006, the store's new location has resulted in a 25 percent increase in business, he said. "People thought when the mall closed,there'd be nothing left," Alcautar said. "But with all the new businesses that have come in it's place, more people are shopping Morse Road and more businesses are coming because they see it's potential." About 60 percent of the products sold in La Michoacana are imports from Mexico and Latin America. The store has an expanded produce aisle, in-house butcher cutting exotic meats to order, full-service restaurant and rows of items commonly used in Latino kitchens. The products and services are so popular with his customer base that the store has extended its hours, remaining open until 10:00 p.m. "I'm very happy with my decision to come here," he said. "It was the right move at the right time.