Where Cravings Come True
Four sisters. One dream. And an entire community that has watched them grow. Isis, Carmen, Belkis, and Arely Castro Zelaya, better known as the Zelaya sisters of Catrachilandia, have built much more than a food truck. They have created a little piece of Honduras in North Carolina, a place where Honduran flavors feel like home and where dreams, just like at Disneyland, come true.
Years ago, the sisters began selling food from their apartment. With fear, sacrifice, and endless workdays… but also with the conviction that they could achieve something great. Isis recalls those early days clearly, “We wanted to grow, to attract more customers. Our dream has always been to have a restaurant. The food truck is just the beginning.” And that’s how Catrachilandia was born, “Where your cravings come true.”
Today, they serve between 200 and 300 customers a day, sometimes running out of food early due to demand. Like many entrepreneurs, they had a goal, but were missing something essential, support. They found that support at Latino Community Credit Union. Isis says without hesitation, “I’ve been with the cooperative for 25 years. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve learned so much there. They always welcome us like family.”
When it came time to make the leap from their home to the food truck, they had almost nothing. But LCCU had something to offer them, an opportunity. With guidance, patience, and the help of Nelly and the Raleigh team, they were able to finance the food truck, buy a home, acquire a van, and start building the future they dreamed of. Arely summarizes it perfectly, “We had a dream, and we found support. The support we were missing.”
The sisters have watched LCCU grow from its first small office in Durham. And, like them, the cooperative has evolved through effort, community, and pride. For the sisters, their success is also a tribute to Honduras, to their city of Comayagua, and especially to their parents, Doña Rosa and Don Víctor, who continue to work and support them from their home country. “We could never thank them enough for teaching us how to work.”
Every dish carries that pride. Every customer receives that care. Every goal achieved reflects the sacrifice they learned as children. Today, their next goal is clear, to open a restaurant. And, as they have for 25 years, they have LCCU by their side. “With LCCU, we have always had support. Always.” The Zelaya sisters want anyone dreaming of starting a business to understand something fundamental, asking questions is not scary; staying uninformed is. And above all, “If you have a dream, don’t just keep it as a dream. Fight to make it come true.”