Cuban grocery opens in Sioux Falls to serve local diaspora

Shoppers in Sioux Falls gained a new option for purchasing Latin American food items on October 30 when Estrella Cuban Market opened its doors. The store is located at 1412 W. 41st St. in a retail center that also houses John’s Shoe Repair.

Yurien Rodriguez, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, serves as the sole owner of this new location. This marks his second small business venture. His first store, a Cuban grocery in Aberdeen, opened in October 2025 and operated for nearly a year before he decided to expand. Rodriguez chose Sioux Falls because it is the largest city in the region with an established Cuban immigrant population but lacks a dedicated competitor.

The market stocks canned and packaged foods, fresh produce including avocados and plantains, and refrigerated meats and cheeses. Rodriguez uses a Florida-based importer to secure these products and states that fresh inventory arrives weekly. The inventory also includes ground coffee and a selection of Cuban colognes. The business describes itself as a Latino mini-market offering cold cuts, sweets, and snacks.

Beyond food sales, the store provides a mail service for customers sending parcels to Cuba. Rodriguez said this feature addresses a specific need for the local community. He aims to provide quality and variety in one location.

Rodriguez moved to the United States more than four years ago. He initially settled in Aberdeen because relatives already lived there. He named the Sioux Falls store after his mother.

The owner expressed his desire for neighbors to try unfamiliar items. “I want people to be open to try some Cuban food and see if they like it,” Rodriguez said, speaking through an interpreter. “I have food they have never seen.”

Estrella Cuban Market operates from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. The store remains closed on Mondays.