Cuban family fulfills the American dream by opening their own restaurant: “Our English isn’t the best, but the food is.”

A Cuban family celebrated the opening of their own restaurant in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, fulfilling the American dream they began building from scratch after emigrating to the United States.

The establishment, called Cuban Corner, is the result of the efforts of the Galguera family, a family of five who arrived in the country only a few years ago and began their culinary adventure by selling Cuban food from a small stand at the local Soda City Market.

Now, their business has a permanent space at the corner of Sumter and Hampton streets, right in the heart of the city, as reported by the local television station WIS News 10, an affiliate of NBC, which highlighted the festive and family-friendly atmosphere of the new restaurant.

"This country opened its arms to us, especially Columbia, South Carolina, and I am very grateful," said Yaema Galguera, co-owner of the restaurant, during the inauguration.

Her phrase encapsulates the sentiment of thousands of Cubans who, like her, are seeking an opportunity in the United States to start anew and share their culture.

On social media, the Galguera family also shared a message of gratitude to the city that welcomed them. “It has been a very emotional weekend at work, but my heart is full of gratitude,” they wrote on the official page of Cuban Corner Food.

They thanked the mayor of Columbia, Daniel Rickenmann, the local media, and everyone who attended the inauguration: “Thank you for believing in our dream and for welcoming us with such warmth.”

The restaurant offers traditional dishes such as Cuban sandwiches and empanadas, and aims to bring the flavors and warm hospitality of Cuba to the residents of the Mid-South region of the United States.

"My English isn't the best, but our food certainly is," Galguera commented with a laugh, making it clear that the passion for cooking can speak for itself.

The opening of Cuban Corner symbolizes the achievement of a family that worked in various trades to survive before turning their dream into a reality.

"I don't know if I can explain how I feel, but I feel very good... it's like a dream come true," Galguera confessed from her new location, where the aroma of food and the laughter of customers bring a little piece of Cuba to the heart of South Carolina.