(l-r) Elmer Ferro, Anissa del Rosario Schiek, José Tomás (JT) García, Suxxy Ramírez, Cole Evans, and Brian Almaraz (Photo by David Brendan Hall)
Arepas are not a mere livelihood to Anissa del Rosario Schiek and José Tomás García. They are South America; they are their grandmothers; they are community, evolution, and brightness in a dark time. Now, they are Austin, and Arepas Dealers are bringing their Venezuelan snacks to pair with fine coffee and a friendly DIY spirit to the Downtown area at Cuatro Gato Cafe. García says, "This is our everyday food."
Arepa Dealers originated in 2016 by García, a Venezuelan asylum seeker trying to find a hustle in Madrid's Lavapiés neighborhood. As the diaspora is relatively young and still spreading globally, he seized his chance to market his national food to late-night snackers. Applying his photography degree and aesthetic eye to create a tangible catalog of his goods, and marketing his early transactions like a drug deal (a spot of dark humor to cope with life's upheavals), he gained a following – the most important of whom was Anissa, now his wife. A few years later, utilizing influence from del Rosario Schiek's Filipino heritage, a green card, and several pop-up iterations, Arepa Dealers now has a permanent home in the former Papadom space at 310-A Colorado St. in Downtown Austin, next door to Coconut Club.