‘El Torito’ Supermarket to expand into downtown Salem
By Jennifer Halley, the West Side Newspaper
Downtown Salem is finally getting a grocery store.
El Torito Supermarket will move into the former Rite Aid Building at 435 Liberty St N.E. Once opened, it will serve as the only full-service grocery store for at least a mile in an area of Salem that has seen accelerated growth over the last several years.
In the spring of 2025, commercial real estate agents Ian Levin and Elizabeth Infante, of Nathan Levin Co., approached one of the store’s owners, Lily Perez, to see if she’d be interested in opening another location in downtown Salem. After the lease was signed, the business applied for the Riverfront Downtown Capital Improvement Grant through the City of Salem, a grant designed for revitalization efforts.
According to City of Salem Public Information Manager Nicole Miller, the grant “provides funding options that encourage creative and flexible approaches to enhance the Riverfront Downtown area. By offering financial assistance to property owners and tenants, the program aims to stimulate growth, improve infrastructure, and support the community’s vision for a vibrant and thriving downtown.”
In May, the City of Salem’s Urban Renewal Agency (URA) approved a grant for $470,000 that was awarded to El Torito Supermarket to help with building upgrades like a new lighting system, HVAC upgrades, and other improvements. According to the City of Salem website, The URA, which consists of all nine members of the Salem City Council, “provides direction and approval for projects and programs to invest and improve specific geographic areas of the city.”
Putting a grocery store downtown will promote economic growth and development.
“Our goal has always been to invest in the community, create jobs, and provide local families with a full-service grocery store that meets their needs,” Perez said. “Both Elizabeth [Infante] and Ian [Levin] have given us a lot of support and have helped us work with the city for the grants.”
El Torito has two other locations in northeast Salem.
“Our family has proudly owned and operated El Torito for over 20 years,” said Perez. “We are the original owners, and what started as a family business has grown into multiple locations throughout Oregon. We’re thankful for the support our customers have given us over the years.”
Similar to the other locations, the store will offer a full-service meat department with fresh-cut meats, authentic Mexican products, produce, a bakery, ready-to-eat meals, fresh tortillas and products from local vendors whenever possible.
“We want to provide customers with both everyday essentials and unique items they may not find elsewhere,” Perez said.
Perez and her husband Alfredo are both from Michoacan, Mexico. They came to the United States with the dream of building something meaningful. While Perez was living in Pacific City, working as a cashier and learning about the grocery business, her husband was a butcher in California. The two met in McMinnville, and in 2006, El Torito opened as a butcher shop. From there, it expanded across Oregon with locations in Klamath Falls, Medford, Madras, Eugene, Lincoln City, and Woodburn.
“We have the support of our families, and they have also contributed a lot to make El Torito grow,” Perez said. “We also have our managers who have worked with us for years. Having our family and employees’ support has definitely helped us grow. It's rewarding to know we're investing in the neighborhood while continuing to grow as a family business.”
‘El Torito’ translates in English to ‘the little bull.’ Throughout Mexican history, the bull has represented courage, nobility, and hard work.
“To us, 'El Torito' represents strength, tradition, and our Mexican heritage,” Perez said. “We've always wanted our stores to feel welcoming, family-oriented, and connected to the culture and foods that our customers love.”
Perez hopes to open the new location as soon as possible, with a soft opening set for sometime around September.
“As with any new business, building awareness and earning the trust of new customers takes time,” Perez said. “We're committed to providing excellent customer service, quality products, and a great shopping experience from day one. We have been in the Salem area for 20 years now, and customers know our products. In this new location, we will be able to offer more specialty items and organic products.”
She is excited to see the old building, which has for a long time been the source of homeless camps, come back to life.
“We want the community to know that we're here for the long term,” Perez said. “We love what we do and it has been very satisfying for us to be able to grow and now to have the opportunity to be part of downtown Salem. Our promise is to provide quality products, fair prices, friendly service, and to continue investing in the neighborhoods we serve. We appreciate everyone's support and look forward to welcoming you.”