Mark and Allison Villagrana enjoyed success this summer selling gourmet shaved ice, cold drinks, and cotton candy out of a food truck in Scottsbluff. They were so successful that they decided to operate their business – Sweet V’s – out of a building. They moved into their new location on First Avenue in Scottsbluff in August, and since then their business has continued to grow rapidly. In addition to gourmet shaved ice, dirty sodas, and cotton candy, they also now offer many other tasty treats, such as hard ice cream and pastry items, and they also offer daily lunch and dinner specials as well as unique coffees.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Mark Villagrana of Scottsbluff could always count on a good, home-cooked meal growing up. Both his mother and grandmother loved to cook, especially Mexican food.
Their passion for cooking eventually rubbed off on Villagrana.
“My goal was always to own my own restaurant,” he said.
As time went on, Villagrana’s interest in cooking and his desire to sell his food never waned.
“I really wanted to open a Mexican restaurant,” he said. “I was born in Los Angeles, and I lived there until I was nine. The food there is way different than it is here. It’s very authentic, so I wanted to offer that type of food here.”
But because of the cost of opening and maintaining a restaurant, Villagrana knew it would take time – maybe even years – to fulfill his dream. In the meantime, he came up with a less costly plan to sell Mexican food.
“My goal was to have a taco truck,” he said.
But until they saved enough money to buy a food truck, Villagrana, his wife, Allison, and their family focused on selling Mexican food during Oregon Trail Days in Gering. They did that for two years before COVID-19 cancelled this year’s event.
“We sold a lot of tacos, enchiladas, tostadas and other items, and we had fun doing it,” he said. “We were amazed at how successful it was.”
Their success selling Mexican food during Oregon Trail Days caused the Villagranas to consider expanding their business. They wanted to offer more than just Mexican food, so they decided to purchase a cotton candy machine.
“That was a big hit, too,” Villagrana said.
They decided to continue adding to their list of offerings, including lemonade. They also began selling food and drinks at other events, such as Morrill Rendezvous Days and The Old West Balloon Fest. Everywhere they went, their food, drinks and treats were a big hit.
“We had no idea it would take off like it did,” Villagrana said.
You can read the entire story in the November issue of Nspire Today! magazine. A one-year subscription (12 issues) is only $15. You may sign up for a subscription by sending $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, or you may pay with a credit card by calling 308-220-8865.
The current issue of Nspire Today! magazine is available at locations listed below.
