A Daughter of Immigrants Finds Meaning and Purpose in the Family Business

Suly Merida wipes down a table at her parents’ restaurant, the smell of fresh corn masa and simmering black beans filling the air. For her, this isn’t just a job. It’s a way to keep a piece of Guatemala alive—right here in Jersey City.

The 27-year-old recently made a choice that surprised some of her friends. After graduating from Rutgers University, she could have chased a corporate career. Instead, she chose to join her parents in running their family restaurant, a spot that’s become a quiet anchor for the city’s Guatemalan community.

“I have a deep love for my culture and a strong desire to share it,” Suly said. “The restaurant allows us to bring a piece of Guatemala to those who are far from home.”

Her parents, immigrants from Guatemala, opened the restaurant years ago. It started small—a few tables, a humble menu. But word spread. Soon, the place became known for its authentic pupusas, handmade tortillas, and a warm, welcoming vibe. For many in Jersey City’s growing Guatemalan population, it’s a taste of home.

How We Got Here

Immigrant-owned restaurants like this one are the backbone of Hudson County’s food scene. They don’t have big marketing budgets. They rely on word of mouth, on the loyalty of neighbors, on the simple power of good food. The Merida family’s story is common in many ways—parents working long hours, sacrificing so their children can have more opportunities. But what happens when that child chooses to come back?

Suly is part of a quiet wave of second-generation immigrants who are stepping into family businesses. They’re not just taking over. They’re reimagining things, bringing new energy and ideas while holding onto what matters: the recipes, the language, the sense of community.

What It Means for Hudson County

For the rest of us, this matters in a very real way. When a young person like Suly chooses to stay in the neighborhood, it means that corner store, that bodega, that restaurant stays open. It means the place where you buy horchata on a hot Saturday afternoon won’t suddenly become a chain. It means the local economy gets a little stronger, one family at a time.

It also means that kids growing up in Hudson County can see a different version of success—one that doesn’t require leaving your roots behind. Suly’s story is a lesson in what it looks like to build something meaningful, not just for yourself but for the people around you.

What People Are Saying

Suly’s mother, who runs the kitchen, says she never pushed her daughter to join the business. “She just loves the food,” her mother said in Spanish, her eyes bright. “She loves the people. That’s all we ever wanted—for her to love where she comes from.”

Customers have noticed the difference. “You can tell she cares,” said one regular, a dad picking up an order after work. “It’s not just a transaction. It’s like she’s welcoming you into her home.”

What Comes Next

Suly has plans. She wants to expand the menu, add more traditional Guatemalan dishes that people might not know. She’s thinking about hosting weekend cooking classes. She even wants to start a small delivery service for seniors who can’t make it to the restaurant. Nothing is set in stone yet, but the energy is there.

For now, she’s content to keep learning from her parents—how to make the perfect tamal, how to greet every customer by name, how to run a business that feels like a family. “This is where I’m supposed to be,” she said. And for Hudson County, that’s a good thing.