Courtesy Olmo Market
CocoAndré Chocolatier co-founder Cindy Pedraza is opening a grocery store, farm-to-table-type restaurant combo in Oak Cliff’s Elmwood neighborhood. She expects to have a soft opening in February and a grand opening in March, she says.
In her announcement on social media Wednesday, Pedraza notes she started dreaming two years ago about opening a grocerant specializing in convenient meals made by a pro chef with ingredients grown by local farmers.
“The goal of Olmo is to provide a variety of delicious to-go food options, using the produce and products in store to reduce waste,” she posts on Instagram. “As much as possible will be sourced from local growers and makers, with transparency as our mission. We want to be a place where everyone feels welcomed.”
Chef Paul Hernandez, owner and chef at Planta Potosí, a vegetarian eatery in Fort Worth, is creating Olmo’s menu.
“When I started seeing Paul at his pop-ups, I was impressed by his cooking skills and of course by him overall,” Pedraza notes. “After I shared my dream with him, I was surprised to discover that he had been dreaming of the same thing.”
The chef posted on the Planta page that he too is “beyond excited and happy.”
Mondo Puente, Pedraza’s husband, also is on board for the venture, Pedraza tells the Advocate. A niece, Talia and good friend Dalia will also be helping out, she says. “We are all close, like family,” she says.
The market will sell pantry items, household goods and fruits and veggies. The deli will include a grab-and-go area as well as a dine-in options.
The past few months have been “challenging” and a “roller coaster,” Pedraza says. But supportive family and friends helped the proprietors get the business off the ground.
