La Nacional to move to bigger building within the year

By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1

On Shane Drive, off N. L. Rogers Well Blvd. and across from NAPA Auto Parts and Hibbett Sports, once stood a Dollar General. Its blue paneling circling the top of the store still bears the outline where the yellow sign once hung. For many years that building has stood vacant but, according to Maria Gonzales, owner of La Nacional, that building will soon be home to her specialty good store.

Currently the specialty good store is located in the same shopping center with Serenity Salon and Spa, further down Shane Drive. The store has a variety of products including fresh-made churros, imported Coca-Cola products and a variety of international beverages and products. Inside the store is also a restaurant that specializes in “real mexican street food.”

According to Gonzales, this move will “triple the size” of the store going from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet. She said this move will double the size of the restaurant and more than double the size of the convenient store. This increase will allow the menu to expand and for her to offer more choices for customers.

“I’ll be able to carry a lot of things that I can’t now for lack of space,” Gonzales said.

One expansion, she said, is in offering more products requested by the Asian community, who previously had to drive down Interstate 65 to Bowling Green to get them.

“I’m also going to be introducing a lot of products that aren’t as easily accessible here in Glasgow,” Gonzales said. “A lot of the Asian community has come forward and said ‘we want this and this.’ I can’t get it because I have no where to put it but with my addition I’ll definitely be able to cater to the community outside of the Hispanic Latino.”

Gonzales said the move to this new building “has been long coming” but circumstances prevented them from moving sooner.

“COVID, financials, health…a lot of stuff has come in the way,” Gonzales said. “We’ve had to hurry up and wait, but we’re finally rolling.”

The new building will have brand new HVAC and plumbing units. She said it will likely be 3 to 4 months before they have their grand opening, which will include a mariachi band, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. According to Gonzales they are removing #2 from their name since they are now the only store.

She said the actual process of moving will be daunting, but she is happy to be able to serve the community in this bigger space.

“I’m everything,” Gonzales said. “I’m excited, I’m nervous, I’m scared, I’m happy again then I’m wanting to not do it. I think every business owner has those kinds of things.”