When Mayra Torres and her family moved to Detroit ten years ago, she did not know the city would be so welcoming and encouraging for her to follow her passion. It all started a few years after her family arrived in the city while looking for a healthier lifestyle. Mayra began to incorporate fruits and vegetables into her homemade dishes with freshly squeezed juice, smoothies, sandwiches, etc., and the change was noticeable. So much so, that extended family members, friends, and community members were soon asking her what her secret was. After plenty of positive feedback and demand, she decided to formalize what began as a project to live a healthier lifestyle into a business, and El ArteSano was born.
Mayra soon enrolled in the ProsperUs Detroit Entrepreneur Training Program where she was able to build a network for herself with like-minded entrepreneurs. Here, she also discovered that she wanted to take her business a step further and re-introduce an old project she started back in her hometown, a boutique! After a few courses and with a bit of help from our microloans, she was able to also invest in her already existing boutique Lotus Essences. This second shop offers natural cosmetics, jewelry, and other products meant to help us find our natural beauty.
Mayra feels grateful for her family and her community for believing in her and supporting her every step of the way. Today, she hopes to inspire other women in her community into business ownership, or in her case, multiple businesses.
“Being a businesswoman allows me to collaborate with my community and touch the lives of many other women and be an inspiration for them in starting their businesses as well.”
Mayra currently finds herself working on her next project, which will be an expansion to her juice bar. El Jardín de El ArteSano will be a space with socially safe protocols in place for folks to come and relax, work, or meet up with a loved one for a healthy smoothie.
Follow Mayra’s health and entrepreneurial journey online at @l_artesano_detroit on Instagram or on Facebook as El ArteSano Juice & Cafe Bar.
