Colonial Market celebrated their Lake Street location grand opening on December 5, 2024! Owner Daniel Hernandez, Mayor Frey, WMI’s Steve Wellington, and Lake Street Council’s Allison Sharkey spoke at the grand opening.
Colonial Market is located in the Hi-Lake Shopping Center, a property Steve purchased in 2003 and WMI has managed since. Steve commented that this has been his favorite and most rewarding property; that it has been a bumpy road since two-thirds of the property burned down in 2020, but this team has the grit and perseverance to help this area blossom.
Daniel first met with Steve and David Wellington about a year and a half ago, and he commented that he was impressed with the work Wellington Management does in the community. Allison added that WMI is a model for how a company can commit to community and entrepreneurs over and over again. Steve believes in small businesses like Colonial Market, saying they are fundamental for the success of Lake Street. Colonial Market is expected to be a strong asset to the community, along with other key small businesses like the Hi-Gate Urgent Care and the City’s presence at the new Safety Center.
Mayor Frey congratulated Colonial Market for providing a foundation from which people can rise by providing customers with quality food, hiring directly from the community, housing Stearns Bank, and having the backing of committed investors and partners. In early December, Daniel and Colonial Market were awarded the Latino Business of the Year award, and he is proud that Colonial Market will be the first Latino-owned supermarket with a bank in the community.
Daniel emphasized that Colonial Market customers can expect fresh, quality goods. 80% of their product comes from overseas to get food from “back home,” with food from South America, South Africa, Asia, Canada, as well as locally-sourced meat.
Mayor Frey and Daniel marked the grand opening with a ribbon cutting and breaking a piñata. Congratulations to Daniel and the Colonial Market team for their grand opening! WMI is excited to welcome them to the community.
