By Jan Carlo Marin
From the Eastern Shore’s capital city of Salisbury to the University of Maryland campus at College Park, a new food establishment is making its way to town.
Taqueros Del Mar, which offers a taste of Mexican tacos, has plans of opening at UMD.
Tommy Zinzi, 21, the owner of Taqueros Del Mar, started his business near Salisbury University when he noticed little diversity within the food culture on campus. Zinzi decided to open up a late night food spot for college students with the help of his friends, Walter Arias, 21, and Mitch Milasukas, 21, the cooks and partners of Taqueros Del Mar.
Arias said that the goal is to serve tacos late at night to college students, while providing them with an open, safe space.
Milauskas, a student at Salisbury University, said his involvement and journey as the cook of Taqueros Del Mar started with his roommate.
“My involvement in Taqueros Del Mar began when my roommate Tommy asked for assistance in running it,” Milauskas said. “It quickly became a popular spot. [Zinzi] taught me all of the recipes and had me in charge of cooking with Walter.”
Fearing that the distance between campus apartments and late-night food spots would foster drunk driving, the creators of Taqueros Del Mar said a late-night business on campus would make it easier for students to safely walk somewhere close.
Taqueros Del Mar is open on Salisbury University’s campus on Friday and Saturday nights until 4 a.m., and Zinzi said the proximity to students not only makes it easier for them, but it would also give the creators “a boost in sales and boost in business.”
Zinzi came up with the idea for this business during his freshman year, and put it into action a year later, in October 2022.
The business was an immediate hit.
“From there we were given catering opportunities, not just from the students, but as well as teachers and other businesses,” said Arias. “The word spread like wildfire.”
Taqueros Del Mar’s most popular items are the carne asada taco, the plain quesadilla and the tacos de birria. They get their chilis from local Latinx suppliers.
“At Taqueros Del Mar, we serve a variety of traditional and original Tex-Mex menu items with the idea that students can stop in and eat for cheap after a night out,” said Milauskas.
As for the beverages, Milauskas said they offer Jarritos Mexican soda and water to compliment the food.
“The idea is to get students fed and hydrated after festivities so they can wake up fresh or continue … on a full stomach,” Milauskas said. “We aim to provide an environment in which students can eat, gather and socialize, similar to what someone would call an after-party.”
After winning an entrepreneurship competition at Salisbury University, Taqueros Del Mar received a welcome boost in funds that will help them open up a truck/trailer.
“As a student involved in a small business, it really has been an awesome opportunity to learn,” Milauskas said. “They don’t teach this stuff in the classroom.”
Arias transferred to UMD in the fall of 2023, which helped Taqueros Del Mar expand even further.
Arias, a junior accounting major, has now done catering events for organizations on and off campus. Zinzi, Arias and Milauskas started planning for a permanent location that is not a far distance from students.
Once Taquero Del Mar expands over to UMD, the crew knows there will be some competition. There are food spots already near campus that serve a similar menu, such as Bandit Taco.
“This is not the case in Salisbury. Although we have catered an event in UMD, I do not see us pursuing it aggressively as a hotspot for sales,” said Milauskas.
Zinzi is the main head of Taqueros Del Mar right now in Salisbury, but Arias is helping expand the business to UMD, hopefully by the end of 2024.
Arias said he wants to bring in more students from UMD and he is eager for their business to spread even more in College Park.
For these students, Taqueros Del Mar has been a test of friendship and a huge learning experience.
“I have firsthand learned and witnessed so much about running a business in every experience so far,” said Milauskas. “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Featured Image: Tacos by Taqueros Del Mar. Photo provided by Taqueros Del Mar.