Sergio and Mayra De Leon are the dynamic duo behind De Leon Foods Inc., a burgeoning food enterprise that’s making a significant mark on the Spokane culinary scene. From humble beginnings, they’ve cultivated a local food empire that encompasses ethnic grocery stores, restaurants, and a thriving wholesale production of tortillas, chips, salsa, and tamales.
Beyond their De Leon Foods ventures, Sergio and Mayra also co-own Northwest Freight Handlers Inc., established in 1995. Together, both companies provide employment for nearly 170 individuals, showcasing the De Leon’s commitment to the Spokane community.
While Northwest Freight Handlers has experienced consistent growth, the De Leons attribute their most significant expansion to their food business, De Leon Foods.
Between 2007 and 2017, De Leon Foods saw an impressive 220 percent increase in revenue. The De Leons are poised for further growth through restaurant expansion, refining their product recipes, and scaling up production.
Driven by a desire to leave a lasting impact, the couple is building a legacy for their children and the Spokane community.
“Spokane is our home, and it’s a community that we’d like to see continue to grow,” says Sergio De Leon. “We hope our customers enjoy our new locations as well as they have our current ones.”
From Grocery to Empire: The De Leon Foods Story
The foundation of De Leon Foods rests upon two thriving ethnic grocery stores specializing in authentic Mexican ingredients. The original location, situated at 102 E. Francis in North Spokane, was joined by a second store in Spokane Valley in 2015, taking over the former Huckleberry’s space at 15530 E. Sprague.
The North Side store offers around 10,000 square feet of retail space, while the Spokane Valley location boasts approximately 20,000 square feet. The two stores collectively employ around 60 people.
“The Valley store is larger because about half that space is used for production of our tortillas and other products,” Sergio explains. “We make Sergio’s Tortillas, as well as tortilla chips, salsas, and tamales.”
The company’s production is substantial, with an output of 800 dozen (9,600) tortillas per hour. Annually, De Leon Foods distributes roughly 576,000 tortillas, in addition to those sold in their own stores and restaurants.
De Leon Foods supplies tortillas and chips to 25 Spokane-area restaurants, including notable establishments like Rocket Bakery, The Davenport Hotel, Wild Sage, El Borrachos, and the Cosmic Cowboy Grill.
While their main offices are at the Francis Avenue grocery store, Sergio and Mayra actively manage both locations, ensuring smooth operations and quality control.
“When we started the grocery, we added all these things—tortilla making, chips, tamales, and salsa—all at the same time,” De Leon says. “We saw a need for all these things, and the goal was to offer a little bit of everything, to be a one-stop-shop for Mexican groceries in the community.”
Expanding the Flavor: Restaurants and Wholesale
In recent years, De Leon Foods has shifted its focus to restaurant expansion and wholesale distribution, aiming to broaden its reach and impact.
“Within the next year, we’ll be focused on improving our tortilla recipe and making it even more authentic,” says Sergio De Leon. “We want to start putting the tortillas into more grocery stores.”
De Leon Foods benefits from a strong relationship with URM Stores Inc., a Spokane-based wholesale food distribution cooperative that owns Rosauers Supermarkets Inc.
“URM is our main supplier for products like meat and flours we use in tortilla making,” he says. “They’ve been a good partner so far in helping us to meet our customer demand.”
A Family Affair: The Roots of De Leon Foods
Sergio De Leon’s entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in his family. His parents, Anselmo and Francesca De Leon, own and operate Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon, a grocery store in Portland.
De Leon arrived in Spokane in the 1990s and met his wife, Mayra. Together, they have four children: Jessica, Dewight, Anthony, and Eric.
Their son, Anthony, is the face of the De Leon Food’s company logo and is known for creating the company’s Seattle Seahawks-inspired blue and green chips following the team’s Super Bowl victory in 2013.
Dewight manages the De Leon Taco & Bar restaurant, located at 10208 N. Division in Spokane. Several other family members are employed across De Leon Foods’ various locations.
The success of Northwest Freight Handlers paved the way for the first De Leon grocery store in 2006.
“We moved into the food industry because Mayra got tired of working in warehouses and wanted to open her own business,” he says.
“We both have a passion for being self-employed, and our families are the same way,” he says. “We felt there was a lack of these kinds of products in the community, and we wanted to make them available for those who enjoy this style of cuisine.”
De Leon’s Taco & Bar: A Culinary Destination
While their grocery stores feature cafeteria-style dining areas, De Leon Foods has expanded into sit-down restaurant concepts.
The first De Leon’s Taco & Bar opened at 10208 N. Division, in the Whitworth Square retail center, near Whitworth University. This restaurant offers an authentic take on Mexican dishes and bakery items.
“We’ve been trying to take a step back from this idea of having big plates with lots of items,” he says. “Our restaurants keep the menu smaller and more focused on tacos.”
Mayra De Leon adds, “Street tacos are very popular right now, so we wanted to stick with that concept.”
A second De Leon’s Taco & Bar location opened at 2718 E. 57th, on the South Hill.
Looking ahead, De Leon Foods is planning a third restaurant at 1801 N. Hamilton, in the Logan neighborhood near Gonzaga University. They purchased the 4,000-square-foot building, formerly Chapala Mexican Food, and are remodeling it with Grade A Builders.
“We’re hoping to open that location sometime in the next two months, before the end of the year,” says De Leon.
A Commitment to Community
De Leon takes pride in the family-owned and community-focused nature of his businesses.
“We are a small operation compared to many others, and we truly care for the community and do a lot to support it,” he says. “It’s our dream to one day pass our businesses on to our kids.”
De Leon Foods is more than just a business; it’s a testament to hard work, family values, and a deep commitment to the Spokane community. Whether you’re craving authentic Mexican ingredients, delicious street tacos, or supporting a local success story, De Leon Foods is a must-visit destination. Find a location near you and taste the difference!
