‘The king’ of groundbreakings ceremony kicks-off El Rey’s $5.5 million expansion project

Mayor Tom Barrett and El Rey Mexican Food Products owners Olivia and Ernesto Villarreal led a groundbreaking ceremony today to kick-off construction of a new $5.5 million supermarket at 916 S. Cesar Chavez Drive. The new store will occupy almost a full city block and replaces the El Rey Supermarket across the street at 1320 S. Cesar Chavez Drive.

El Rey Mexican Food Products is a thriving Milwaukee business founded in 1978 by Ernesto and Beto Villarreal. The company owns five supermarkets, including a space in the Milwaukee Public market and also produces tortillas, tortilla chips and other Mexican foods. El Rey has been a strong business presence on the south side and has been an anchor in the booming Cesar Chavez Drive commercial district. Recently the businesses along Chavez Drive formed a Business Improvement District to enhance the area and attract new customers and businesses.

The City of Milwaukee has long been a partner in the success of El Rey Mexican Products, beginning with a loan 20 years ago to help the company expand. This year the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation approved a $2.2 million loan to the Villarreals for their current expansion project.

Hispanic-owned businesses will perform 40% of the work on the El Rey expansion project. J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. is the lead contractor.

The store is scheduled to open in Spring, 2007.