LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Over two decades ago, a Louisville family from Mexico made a name for themselves by opening what has become a small chain of four flourishing supermarkets.

What You Need To Know

  • Two decades ago, the Ruiz family started the Supermercado Guanajuato grocery store

  • Supermercado Guanajuato is a one stop shop and has four locations

  • Between 2010 and 2022, the Hispanic and Latino in Kentucky population grew by 60,805 from 134,182 in 2010 to 194,987 in 2022

From baked goods to produce, Supermercado Guanajuato is a one stop shop.

“I grew up in the store, basically, till my whole life. I’m still here. I still help them out till this day,” explained Jasmine Ruiz.

Growing up, Ruiz, 19, saw her parents and uncles run the store.

“Guanajuato, that’s why the store is called Supermercado Guanajuato,” Ruiz said.

It’s the city in Mexico her family left in 1997 and 10 years later in 2007 created their vision.

“My uncle started working with my dad as well. They started as an idea. They opened the store and the restaurant together actually, they both worked in there,” Ruiz said.

All the while maintaining their values, passing them down to the next generation while growing up in America.

“It is hard because I’m definitely a first generation. I’m the first-born child. I only have one little brother. So it’s definitely a different experience than a lot of, a lot of kids growing up my age, a lot of kids. I went to school with me, actually. I would see them in school and in the stores. That would be really funny,” Ruiz said.

As the years progressed, they expanded.

“They started off working as any other person would. They worked outside and in farms and factories, and then they kind of both had the idea to start something different, something new. They were also the first, like kids of my grandma, to come to the United States. So they were the very first to just come up with this idea and thank God it worked,” Ruiz said.

According to the nonprofit organization USAFacts, between 2010 and 2022, the Hispanic and Latino in Kentucky population grew by 60,805 from 134,182 in 2010 to 194,987 in 2022.

In addition, between 2010 and 2022, the share of the Hispanic and Latino population grew the most, increasing from 3.1% to 4.3%. 

“It’s growing enormously each year, a lot of people. It’s really good that we have so many locations because no matter where the people live at, they have access to any store, the closest store to them,” Ruiz said.

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