When my husband, Joe Stricker, and I first met, and tried the food he makes at Sombreros Mexican Restaurant in Saginaw, I said, ‘We need this in Bay City.’ As a restaurant, we struggled for the longest time during COVID. It was just us—with three kids—working from 7 am to 11:30 pm, trying to keep our businesses going. We succeeded, and I feel like this new location on Midland Street is a reward for our hard work.
Sombreros is more than just a place to eat for us: our history, culture, and our family revolve around these recipes that come from my husband's grandfather and beyond. We want to make our ancestors proud. You won't find anything coming from a can or a bag. Joe spends many hours prepping everything. At the new location, we hope to have family-style dining with big meals that we bring to the table and table-side guacamole.
Our cooks being from Mexico adds an extra element of authenticity to our food. There is love that goes into preparing the food and I feel like our cooks truly have a relationship with the food.
My family grew up in Bay City. So, I think the greatest thing is getting to know the people in Bay City. I cannot wait for that and to do community outreach in Bay City and get involved.”
- Shannon Stricker, Sombreros Mexican Restaurant and Stricker Cosmetology and Aesthetics
