Josefina Zuniga remembers driving past the Adelanto Marketplace and imagining her name on a storefront.
Now, that vision has come to life.
Zuniga, along with her husband, Jose, has spent nearly a decade in the floral business, operating Zuniga Flowers in downtown Los Angeles.
On Feb. 5, the couple quietly opened a second location in Adelanto, bringing their work closer to home. The shop is located in the Adelanto Marketplace, anchored by Stater Bros. Markets.
“Getting off the freeway and driving home, we would pass this shopping center, and in my head I just knew a sign would say Zuniga Flowers,” she said while working on a custom arrangement.
The Zunigas have lived in Adelanto for three years, and the daily commute helped spark a turning point.
“I told my husband I wanted to dedicate myself to being home with our kids while still finding a way to work,” Zuniga said. “I’m not someone who can just sit still. I wanted to keep a hand in the business while taking care of our home.”
At first, that meant designing arrangements from home that would be transported and sold at their Los Angeles location. But it didn’t take long for Zuniga to build a local customer base with the power of social media.
She began by advertising Día de los Muertos arrangements on Facebook, drawing steady interest.
Orders soon followed. She later promoted floral designs for Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, again using social media to reach customers.
With each holiday, her local presence continued to grow.
“I’m thankful to God because so many people here in the High Desert have supported me,” Zuniga said. “Even other young women selling arrangements on Instagram have come to me for flowers at a good price so they can continue their own businesses.”
Working from home, Zuniga invested in equipment, including a floral cooler, and steadily expanded her offerings.
But a disagreement with a neighbor over home projects ultimately pushed her to take the next step.
“I told my husband it was time to move forward and open a shop up here,” she said. “I’m a dreamer. Even when I couldn’t do it at the time, when I would drive by this shopping center, I believed one day I would.”
Zuniga Flowers opened just days before Valentine’s Day, one of the busiest times of the year for florists.
“I was a little nervous opening right before such a big holiday,” she said. “It all feels like a blur now.”
Still, the early response has been encouraging.
“We’re still getting settled, but our customers are happy with what they receive,” Zuniga said. “That’s what makes me happy. I love serving people and creating exactly what they’re looking for.”
For Zuniga, opening a shop in the High Desert represents more than a business milestone. It’s a testament to perseverance.
At a time when many immigrant families face uncertainty and difficult decisions, she hopes her journey resonates beyond entrepreneurship.
As an immigrant business owner, originally from Guatemala, Zuniga said she understands the challenges many families continue to navigate amid ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
Those challenges won’t ever define her path.
“Latinos are capable of running their own businesses. It doesn’t matter what it is, you can do it,” Zuniga said. “You have to be fearless. If you have a dream, go for it. If you keep waiting because you’re unsure about things you can’t control, time will pass and you’ll regret not trying or starting sooner.”
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: A vision in bloom, Zuniga Flowers opens a second location in Adelanto
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
