For Mary Ramirez, owner of Maria’s Cafe in Walker’s Point, love looks and tastes a lot like coffee, just not in the sense you might think.
To her, it’s more than coffee: it’s preparing the specialty drinks alongside her grandkids, watching her family and friends show up to taste new recipes or assemble the cafe’s furniture, and seeing the community gather in a space inspired by a culture near and dear to her heart.
Located inside the Arts @ Large building, Maria’s Cafe is hoping to bring people together through a shared passion for coffee, connection, and community.
How did Maria’s Cafe get its start? What is your background?
I have always had artistic ideas and expression through art from a young age, plus I have dreamt of one day being an entrepreneur. My mom owned a restaurant in Racine, WI, when I was growing up.
I have a business degree from Alverno College here in Milwaukee. But life took me on another path, and I worked for an organization for 33 years, and, along with my husband of 48 years, we raised a family of 5 children. I retired in December 2025 and set out on a new chapter. I took my ideas and vision of entrepreneurship and created Maria’s Cafe.
Have you faced any major challenges with building out the business or any triumph stories?
I think the challenge of aligning my vision with Milwaukee’s vision and meeting the needs of the community has been a challenge.
What was the support like as you were getting ready to open/what has it been like in your first couple of weeks open?
The support has been incredible. Family members helped clean, assemble furniture, and taste-test menu items.
We held a soft-opening we called “Friends and Family” in late May, and we expected 40 people, yet there were over 88 friends and family who came from many parts of Milwaukee, Janesville, Racine, and even Madison. They came with excitement and showed a commitment to seeing the café succeed.
The Arts At Large team has also been very supportive and inclusive as we’ve transformed the space into an expression of our Mexican culture.
What is Maria’s Cafe, and why did you feel it would be a good fit in Milwaukee? Or, why did you feel Milwaukee was a good place to start your business?
Maria’s Café is a family-owned coffee shop inspired by the traditions, flavors, and hospitality of Northern Mexico. We serve specialty coffee drinks, Café de Olla, Horchata Lattes, fresh paninis, quesadillas, pastries, and other offerings that blend Mexican influences with modern café culture. When the opportunity arose to open inside Arts @Large, it felt like a perfect fit.
What’s the mission behind Maria’s Cafe?
We have 3 key guiding posts:
• Community-to activate the surroundings of 3 generation immigrants and also involve the new/up and coming community in the new buildings and units being built in this area.
• Operational Excellence (mentorship)—this is key because this is my “why” Why am I doing this? To offer an opportunity for my grandchildren to learn the service industry. To understand pricing, product placement, marketing, and return on investment terms and how these all work in a business.
• Culture /Heritage-Bringing our Mexican flavors, colors and values to Maria’s Cafe to be shared with the community.
What is it like being a small business in MKE? If you’re a woman, minority, or LGBTQ+ owned business, please feel free to touch on your experiences as an entrepreneur in that space as well.
My experience as a Latina–“seasoned” woman (over 60 years old) business owner is challenging because not alot of people would want to open a business during this economy, but because of this, I do not take anything for granted. There are a lot of challenges and hurdles to go through in opening a business.
I see opening a small business and being an entrepreneur as a privilege that, at every barrier and struggle, I find myself being grateful and thankful because I’ve been able to find solutions. My mom would always say, “If you find a rock in the road, find a way around it, under it, or through it, but never give up.”
What do you like about being in Milwaukee?
My family has lived in Milwaukee for over 45 years. We are immigrants from Mexico, and as such, we’ve raised our 5 children in the south side of Milwaukee. This is home. I truly like the diversity, the opportunities it’s offered us in terms of education, and work opportunities.
In particular, the Walker’s Point neighborhood where Maria’s Café is located is made of up of 3-4 generations of immigrants. Walker’s Point is an up-and-coming neighborhood that has a lot to offer current residents and new residents to the area.
What’s your favorite part about what you’re doing?
Seeing how much our customers like the flavors, the presentation of our drinks, the beautiful patio full of colorful flowers and being able to be a role model for the young and upcoming leaders of tomorrow.
What can people expect when going to Maria’s Cafe?
Specialty drinks like Horchata Lattes, Cajeta Lattes, Cafe de Olla made with piloncillo, cinnamon, and spices. Slow-brewed the traditional way. They’ll feel welcomed and part of the community.
Anything else we should know about your business or anything you’d like to mention? Any favorite stories?
We like to support local small businesses by sourcing our bakery from Mexican bakeries right here in Milwaukee. We source our coffee from Anodyne, a local roaster down the street on 2nd and Bruce, and we collaborate with local Latino artists such as Cerda Designs www.cerdasignco.com and our marketing designer MMCreativo www.mmcreativo.com because I believe we have an obligation as a small business owner to support each other, and together we’ll succeed.
All are welcomed to Maria’s Cafe, 1100 S. 5th St, corner of S. 5th and Washington in the Walker’s Point Neighborhood