Ay Mí México Grill & Seafood Restaurant
Tatiana Cera Marquez, with support from her husband, Martin, opened Ay Mí México Grill & Seafood Restaurant in Albuquerque in July 2022. They worked to establish the restaurant as a destination for authentic Mexican food and hospitality, building an established customer base and presence in the Albuquerque community. The restaurant offers a broad menu that includes traditional Mexican breakfast and lunch dishes, from tacos to molcajetes, along with desserts and family friendly options.
Tatiana first connected with WESST shortly after opening Ay Mí México in 2022. As a new restaurant owner, she was navigating the many challenges that come with establishing and growing a business, including marketing, financial management, day to day operations, and planning for long term growth. Her needs have evolved from building a strong foundation to preparing for the next stage of the business, and WESST has been by her side. Most recently, WESST worked with Tatiana and Martin to strengthen their business plan, review financial projections and business operations, and identify the documentation needed to prepare for financing and future expansion, as they explore opportunities to expand their business, including potentially purchasing an additional location with the help from an SBA loan.
Opening and growing a restaurant hasn't come without financial and operational challenges. Tatiana has had to balance managing daily restaurant operations while building a customer base, developing a marketing strategy, managing expenses, hiring and training employees, and making decisions about the future of the business. Tatiana has continued to turn to WESST's bilingual team for guidance and support, as Spanish is her primarily language.
Since 2022, WESST has provided Tatiana with ongoing 1:1 business advising as Ay Mí México has grown. Valeria Olave and the Albuquerque Women’s Business Center have supported her with business planning, marketing, financial guidance, and access-to-capital preparation. Most recently, WESST has worked with Tatiana and Martin to strengthen their business plan, review financial projections and business operations, and identify the documentation needed to prepare for financing and future expansion.
In 2026, Ay Mí México was recognized in October by BusinessRate as a Top 3 Mexican Restaurant in Albuquerque, an award powered by Google Reviews.
Me siento muy feliz y orgullosa de compartir que he trabajado con WESST durante varios años. Me han apoyado con asesoría empresarial, servicios financieros y mercadotecnia, y puedo decir con mucha satisfacción que su apoyo ha funcionado muy bien para mí. Gracias a WESST, a Valeria Olave y a todo su equipo profesional por todo el apoyo que me han brindado.
I’m happy and proud to share that I have worked with WESST for several years. They have supported me with business advice, financial services, and marketing, and I can happily attest that their support has worked very well for me. Thank you to WESST, Valeria Olave, and their professional team for all their support.
