By Ace Caguioa
For the González family, the opening of Northgate Market in La Mirada at Valley View Avenue and Imperial Highway is much more than another store launch. It’s a homecoming nearly fifty years in the making.
The story of Northgate Market begins long before the first store opened in Anaheim, CA. Don Miguel González Jiménez grew up in Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, Mexico, where he worked as a shoemaker. In 1952, a tragic fire destroyed his shop, but with the support of his wife, Doña Teresa Reynoso de González, and their growing family, he found hope in the dream of building something new. After years of hard work and struggle, Don Miguel came to the United States to pursue a better future for his children.
That future began to take shape in 1976, when the family reunited here in La Mirada. It was here that the seeds of their business first took root, eventually leading to the opening of their very first Northgate Market in Anaheim in 1980. What began as a way to provide for the family soon became something bigger: a mission to serve the community with not only food but culture and tradition.
Now, decades later, the circle is almost complete. Northgate is returning to La Mirada — the city that played such an important role in its creation. “Opening a Northgate Market in La Mirada is much more than a business decision—it’s a homecoming,” Teresa González said. “It is both a way to honor our beginnings and a chance to give back to a community that was part of our earliest journey.”
That sense of home runs through everything the family does. From the start, Northgate has been more than just groceries. The González family has always wanted their markets to feel like the warmth of a family kitchen — a place where people are welcomed, where traditions and heritage are celebrated, and where communities thrive. Teresa describes it simply: “When people walk into this store, we want them to feel at home immediately. We hope it becomes a gathering place where families connect, traditions are celebrated, and culture comes alive through food.”
The commitment to La Mirada goes beyond the aisles. The new store is expected to not only create jobs for local residents but also support schools and community organizations. Programs that promote health, education, and family well-being — such as scholarships, wellness campaigns, and food access initiatives — are also part of the plan. “Giving back to the community has always been at the heart of who we are,” Teresa said. “This store was built with the La Mirada community in mind.”
“La Mirada holds a very special place in our story,” Teresa reflected. It represents where they started and where they’re headed. “This store is a way to celebrate that history while continuing to serve families with the same values of tradition, faith, and community that have guided us since day one.”
From one small store in 1980 to more than forty locations across California today, Northgate has grown into one of the state’s most recognizable Hispanic grocery chains. But this opening feels different. It’s not just about expansion — it’s about honoring the place where their family first came together and inviting the community to share in the next chapter. “This store represents both our family’s history and our future,” Teresa said. “We hope it will be a source of pride and joy for the La Mirada community for generations to come.”
At its core, as instilled by Don Miguel and Doña Teresa, Northgate’s homecoming is more than food. It’s about family, heritage, and belonging — values that connect the past to the future and remind us that home is not only where a story begins, but also where it continues to grow.
Now, the La Mirada community awaits this long-anticipated homecoming — a chance to share in the heritage, culture, food, and stories that Northgate continues to inspire.
Editor’s Note: As of the last information received, the new Northgate Market is still on schedule to open in November/December of this year.
