There’s a new Latin-style market complete with a food hall offering house-baked Chilean empanadas and imported Colombian coffee likely coming to Kingsley Square this fall.
Renderings courtesy of Unimarket.
Richard Ospina first opened Unimarket Latin Foods in Calgary in 2008. Since then, the brand has expanded to three locations in the Calgary area. Unimarket stores typically feature a food hall, cafe and a market filled with Latin American imports. Ospina routinely travels to countries like Mexico, Peru and Colombia to source the coffee, tortillas and dried chilis sold in his stores.
Opening in the former Palm Beach Tan space, the Lake Highlands location will be the brand’s first venture into the U.S. market.
“We see a big opportunity down in Texas, from the experience we’ve gained throughout the years, to just come down here and offer a unique experience where you can taste anything from a Churrasco from Argentina to an empanada from Colombia, (while also) offering very authentic Colombian premium coffee,” Ospina told the Advocate.
Over the past couple of months, Ospina says he has traveled to visit suppliers in Latin America to ensure quality ahead of the opening.
At around 2,000 square feet, the market section will make up about 30% of the floorspace, with the rest dedicated to a kitchen, cafe, food counter and dine-in seating. Coffee offerings will include staples like espressos, cappuccinos and Americanos, in addition to Latin-inspired drinks like a cortado, equal parts espresso and warm milk. Esneyder Ospina, Richard’s brother and business partner, says Unimarket will roast its coffee on-site, with beans available for take-home purchase.
“I feel like on this side of 75 there is a need for businesses like Unimarket, where you have a very diverse food hall-type offering where customers can can go in and buy prepared food, pick up a good cup of coffee with a breakfast sandwich or a tropical Latin America smoothie, or enjoy one of our pastries,” Esneyder said.
He says he is especially excited about bringing Unimarket’s line of empanadas to Texas. Many Latin American countries boast their own version of the meat or vegetable-filled pastry resembling a hand pie — most are baked with flour and take a half-moon shape — while a few resemble masa-based turnovers. Unimarket offers six varieties of empanada (Peruvian, Criolla, Puff Pastry, Chilean, Venuzuelan and Columbian), with fillings including spinach, beef, mushroom, chicken, choriqueso and plantain + cheese.
The main food hall will serve hot plates, with offerings spanning everything from tacos to grilled steaks and fries. A la carté offerings will give neighbors a chance to try unfamiliar dishes from the Southern Hemisphere, Esneyder says.
“You’re going to find Argentinian churrasco,” Esneyder said. “You’re going to find a very popular Peruvian dish, which is called lomo saltado. And you’re going to find Colombia’s most iconic dish, which is bandeja paisa.”
Richard told the Advocate Unimarket will likely adjust some of its offerings to appeal to the Dallas market. With future stores envisioned in Miami and New York, he and his brother are also already looking to lease space in Preston Hollow for a second U.S. location.
Esneyder says he plans for the Kingsley Square Unimarket will open in September at the earliest and October at the latest.
“We’re not selling tacos, we’re not selling coffee,” Esneyder said. “We’re offering a Latin immersion in Dallas. We’re selling the experience. We’re selling that you have a place where you can feel safe, you can listen to some great light music in a beautiful sitting area, a beautiful store which is always clean with friendly service, so you can go in and taste some of these Latin gems.”
