La Casa Latina could close down: Will cocktails and magic stories save the store?

Corona and local road work is not the cocktail mix the small Latin American shop La Casa Latina in Aalborg Vestby needs right now.

Small business owners were struck by corona restrictions and the need for increased safety measures. La Casa Latina is no exception.  The owner, Ilma Sanchez Mogensen, believes thinking different could help save her shop. She is seeking out new and creative options.

”Everything is quiet, but we are doing all we can to survive. Therefore, we need to think about what we can do differently in addition to the rum and cocktail tasting we are offering now,” Ilma explains with a smile. 

When times get tough, Ilma shows no intentions of giving up as she is the type of person who is passionate about her shop. 

As you walk through the door, you’re immediately met by Ilmas’ large smile and magnificent hospitality. You quickly realize that the shop on Kastetvej 35 is full of soul and passion.

Talks and authentic cocktails

The pre-corona world is returning in many places, allowing borders to open and making travel possible again.

Ilma is lucky to have an extensive network in Aalborg and knows many people from other countries such as Peru, Mexico, Cuba, and Chile. 

Therefore, she thought of hosting talks at the shop, mainly travel stories by those who recently visited their home countries to share local news and current news. She explains why one particular speaker is participating: 

”Salvador told me that everything you read in the newspaper about Mexico is negative. There are articles about drugs and strange things, but Mexico is much more than those headlines.

Mexico is full of ordinary people going about their everyday lives and living their culture.”

You can expect to hear stories from committed and knowledgeable people who want to spread the good news and atmosphere of their local cultures. There’ll be servings of rum, coffee, and three delicious cocktails inspired by the country of origin during the talks. 

Several chances to participate

”When do I have an opportunity to participate?” you might be thinking.

And that we can understand.

There are a limited number of spots and therefore, you need to reserve your spot in advance. You can join all the events via La Casa Latina’s Facebook page.

All the lectures take place at La Casa Latina on Kastevej 35. The talk is about 2 hours and costs 259 kroner to attend.

The upcoming lecture by Alex Wilson from Cuba will be on Saturday, April 2, from 16:00-18:00.

If you are interested in learning more about the other lectures and destinations, you can read more about them here.

What: Travel stories from Latin America
Where: La Casa Latina, Kastetvej 35
When: April 2, April 23, May 7, and May 28.