Rising Stars: Meet Monse Hines

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monse Hines.

Hi Monse, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
We first opened the Pupuseria in 2018, following 7 years of introducing my pupusas in various wholesale locations and farmer’s markets throughout the state. I quickly saw the opportunity to introduce a full menu of Salvadoran dishes and Monse’s Pupuseria was born.

My husband is retired military, and the Army brought us to Colorado Springs in 2011. We fell in love with the community and have called Colorado Springs home ever since. Colorado Springs is filled with local supporters and receives a large number of tourists who visit our city and search for the local food scene. We can’t say enough about how much we appreciate the support!

We put our focus on fresh ingredients and a homemade Salvadoran menu, with special emphasis on healthy, non-GMO, and allergy-friendly options; we’re a 100% gluten-free kitchen and highlight a number of vegetarian and vegan options as well!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think any new business starts off on a bumpy road, and you learn lessons as you go. We’ve been fortunate to receive so much local love and support though, and it’s truly something we love doing. Pupusas are unique and not as familiar as other traditional Latin foods, so there is always a balance of excitement and struggle to introduce something new.

Like many small businesses, managing operating costs and having sufficient staff to keep up with the busy season is always a challenge, but we have such an amazing team and I couldn’t do it without them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am proud to highlight being a woman and minority-owned business. It is a detail that is very important to me. I am a mother of two daughters and it fills me with pride to feel like I can be a role model for them through my business.

I love that I have an environment to fully immerse them in their Salvadoran heritage–experiencing the roots behind the culture, with food, language, and family. Plus, it has opened so many connections with other woman who also own their own businesses in town.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid-19 was a challenging time for everyone. We credit a warm, caring, and supportive community for getting through it as a business. We continue to offer catering for private parties and large group orders, and we appreciate the local colleges, schools, businesses, and other organizations who choose us for their events. We have since fine-tuned our online ordering and take-out processes and continue to offer our full menu through multiple take-out, online, and third-party delivery platforms.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.monsestasteofelsalvador.online
• Instagram: @monsespupuseria
• Facebook: @Monsestasteofelsalvador