Loca Mocha: A Family Legacy Brewing Community and Resilience in Sumas

By Nate Ashby

SUMAS, WASHINGTON – In a small town nestled between a river that runs through the county and a beautiful mountain is a small town called Sumas! Vibrant farming fields and colors from the sun as it rises over the mountains, and a little bit of small town life is what it’s all about!

There is a woman who wants to do something fun in the community. Hard work and business dedication have always run deep in her family! Nicole’s passion for her business stems from way back in the day. Her grandparents owned Sandovals Mexican Food in Pacoima, CA, in 1969. In 2003, Nicole’s parents owned Shore Shack & Sandy’s in Aberdeen, WA.

Bring it back full circle, and Nicole said, “I went out on a whim,” and opened her coffee shop in 2019 called Loca Mocha. It was her dream, she loved , but the world came crashing down. Covid threw a curve ball into the cup of coffee that she was trying to balance. Along with that, a side of flooding came and almost put things to a haunting holt.

But through the perseverance of what Nicole had in her blood from her family, she wanted to continue on! The out poor from her customers continued to show up for her! She saw that and said, “I have to keep making coffee for them!! It’s all about the community they love that we are here, and that’s what it’s all about!”.

A year ago, they wanted to do more than just coffee! So she decided to pour a bigger cup of coffee and went out on a whim and decided to expand her shop into a family fun place to hang out and decided to add breakfast items besides just coffee! From burritos to amazing breakfast sandwiches! Inside the cafe there is a bookshelf filled with games to play for all ages!!

There is also a kids’ play corner!! They also sell apparel with their branding on it! The Sandoval family has the desire to serve the Sumas community! “It’s always been a part of who I am,” she said. “I like to believe it was passed down to me, ingrained in my mind by stories of my grandparents.

Andres Sandoval and Pomposa Garcia, Nicole’s grandparents, worked hard to be able to own their own restaurant in southern Califoria in the 1960’s. Their story is one of determination, dedication, and perseverance.

They came from Mexico to live the “American Dream” Their legacy lives on in the lives on in their children and grandchildren who were and are now an example of “what my grandparents had set for us.” She said, “I hope, and I know my grandparents are looking down on us here in Sumas with pride as we give back to this amazing loving community that has given back to me and my family!!” At the end of our time, I asked her, “Are there any plans on opening a second coffee shop she said. “Well, I think so. It’s always in the dreams!!”

This article was written by BMN Volunteer reporter, Nate Ashby.