LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — After 35 years of serving the Cardinal Valley neighborhood, La Unica Mexican Grocery will close its doors this week when the lease agreement expires.

Owner Juan Esparza and his family opened the store decades ago. What started as a small grocery store became a cornerstone of the neighborhood, with customers becoming like extended family.

"We started our business without knowing about business. There was nothing over here, no taco place, no tortillas, nothing for our community," Esparza said.

The idea came to him while passing through the area when he spotted an opportunity to serve his community.

"I said, man, what about this spot. What if I open up a little grocery store right here at this spot?" Esparza said.

The decision transformed both his family's life

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