'We Are Not Welcome': Mexican Food Stand 'Probably' Won't Return To Andover

'We Are Not Welcome': Mexican Food Stand 'Probably' Won't Return To Andover

The business is moving to nearby Nowthen.

Owners of a Mexican food stand business say they won't return to Andover, claiming the city's administration made them feel "not welcome."

La Troquita Del Sur announced in a Facebook post Wednesday that it has since relocated to Nowthen, saying it was crucial to provide this update to its customers because the "probably" won't return to Andover.

"We serve authentic Mexican food and are sad that our backgrounds have caused enough people to be upset to let us know we are not welcome in Andover. Our priorities are to serve good food in a good environment," the post reads.

María, who owns the food stand, tells Bring Me The News their departure from Andover was because of attitudes from a handful of city staff, rather than the residents of the city.

"We have tons of support from people from Andover so it makes us sad we can't be there because of a few people," María said. "I want to feed my people! I don't want to fight I just want to work."

She said that her family’s food stand came under scrutiny from the city when a neighbor made a complaint about one of her dogs, and claims she was told by a city worker to "pack up their s*** and get out." The city vehemently denies any harassment by its workers.

Further problems came when the food stand tried to renew its license. They had been operating in the city for a year, but when they came to renew, it was rejected.

The City of Andover issued a lengthy statement on Sunday afternoon, and seemed to suggest that the problem with La Troquita Del Sur was it fell foul of a city ordinance stipulating that mobile food stands can't be in the same location for more than 21 days in a calendar year. The city also said that the food stand has not recently applied for a new 21-day license, and it has never rejected one the food stand has submitted.

"Any enforcement actions taken by the City are based on this lack of compliance, not on discriminatory grounds or the personal opinions of staff," it added.

María's daughter, Dianna Ortiz, who works at the stand, claimed in response on the city's Facebook post that the city called the police and had the stand immediately shut down without any warning.

"We know and we understand that we have to move locations every 21 days we know that so why are they not allowing us to apply for the 21 day permit?" Oritz said. "The problem is the lady who told us to close and contacted the police. Why isn't she allowing us to apply for the permit she is asking for"

According to its website, the stand offers items like quesabirria tacos, tamales, quesadillas, tortas, nachos, birria ramen, burritos and more.

The announcement on the business' Facebook page led to an outpouring of support from residents of both Andover and Nowthen.

"I can’t believe that! We live in Andover and love your food! I am so embarrassed and angry you were treated that way! That’s just unacceptable," one commenter wrote.

The food stand, which describes itself as "woman-owned, Latin-owned," currently lists its location as 8077 Viking Boulevard in Nowthen.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News