Homi Restaurant: Serving Tradition and Giving Back

On St. Paul’s University Avenue, Homi Mexican Restaurant has become a beloved spot for authentic Mexican food, but it is also the story of a family who built something lasting out of love and resilience. Miguel Lopez, alongside his wife, Hortencia, and later joined by their son, Miguel Jr., opened the restaurant to share the flavors of home while also providing for their family. “We are a minority, family-owned and operated business,” Lopez explains. “Our love for food and the opportunity to let people enjoy homemade meals away from home, along with the need to provide for our own family, led us to open Homi in 2009.”

The family’s dedication was tested during the pandemic and the civil unrest that followed. “All businesses were impacted one way or another,” Lopez recalls. “One of the challenges we faced was the unknown factor of how it would all end up, but in our case, it ended on a high note.” A longtime customer and Senior Director of Lending at NDC, Perla Mayo, encouraged them to apply for the PROMISE Act Grant, which provided much needed support. “It is a weight off our shoulders knowing that we can still provide for our families as well as for the families of our employees,” says Lopez. “It gives us a breath of hope for planning what is coming next for Homi Restaurant Inc.”

The PROMISE Act Grant will also help their business grow beyond the restaurant’s walls. “For now, the grant has helped us start looking to the next step for Homi to continuously grow,” Lopez explains. “A food trailer is in our future plans.”

Even as the family looks toward growth, their commitment to community has never wavered. Through a partnership with Second Harvest, Homi provides more than 600 free meals every week for those in need. At its peak, they distributed 900 meals weekly, but due to funding cuts, the number has since been reduced to 600. “We serve these meals with love, all prepared and packed in our kitchen,” Lopez says. “It’s our way of giving back to the community that has given us so much.”

For Lopez, Homi’s success is not just measured in sales or recognition, but in the connections it creates. He encourages other aspiring entrepreneurs to trust in their vision: “Take a leap of faith. Believe in your dreams. It is hard work, but at the end, it is all worth it.”

The PROMISE Act Grant has given Homi the stability to plan ahead and the momentum to grow, with hopes of adding a food trailer while continuing their weekly community meal program. For Lopez and his family, it is both relief and encouragement, and a reminder that perseverance, community support, and faith can carry their vision forward. Since opening in 2009, Homi has stayed true to its name—short for “homemade”—remaining a place where tradition, family, and community gather around the table.