How the 1st Mexican cultural store in Chicago's Magnificent Mile highlights the economic power of immigrant community

CHICAGO -- Hundreds of radiant rebozos and picturesque huipiles, made by Indigenous artisans in rural towns of Mexico, adorn the tall walls of a store on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. Each item tells the story of a family — traditions that are centuries old — and how they got to the Magnificent Mile for the world to admire.

For many years, Erika Espinosa could fit all the merchandise on a small table that she would set up on the sidewalks of different neighborhoods, at festivals and community markets during the summer — even in her backyard. Colores Mexicanos, she said, was not only a business for her and her family, but also a reflection of the