05/18/2026
We are truly overwhelmed by the love, support, patience, and encouragement shown during our Grand Opening on Saturday. Seeing our community celebrate this milestone with us touched our hearts more than words can express.
To every single customer who attended thank you for waiting patiently during long lines and wait times, for showing us grace as we learn new systems and settle into our new home, and for sharing feedback that will help us continue improving. Your support means everything to us.
A huge thank you to our incredible team members who gave it their absolute best all day long. We are truly blessed with the best team. Every plate served was made with love, because together we strive to make every guest feel like they’re eating at Abuelita’s casa.
One of the most emotional parts of the day was seeing familiar faces from every chapter of our family’s journey. Friends who turned into family. From the days when my mother opened Veracruz in the District of Rock Island, to when she helped her nephew Angel Moran operate Jalapeños at Coya's former 4th Avenue location, to our East End neighborhood friends who supported Coya’s from the very beginning in 2018. Thank you for continuing to believe in us through generations.
We appreciate all of the city officials, community leaders, and organizations who attended. Your support for local Latino businesses truly makes a difference in our community.
This project has been in the works for over a year, and we could not have done it without the incredible locally-owned Quad Cities businesses and individuals who helped bring this vision to life.
A special thank you to:
My family – husband, kids, niece, and son-in-law
Chris Ontiveros & Ontiveros family
Mercedes Padró – Logo & Menu Design
Nayely Cortez – Exterior Mural
Atlanta Dawn – Interior Mural
Alvaro Rodriguez – Remodeling
Harvey Bland – T-shirts & Remodeling
Streamline Architects
Dameon Wright – General Contractor
Edgar Diaz –AAA+ roofing and restoration LLC
East Moline Glass
LA Tint
Bob Blacktop
Kyle Lewis – Heritage Landscape Design
Brian – Printing Plus Signs & Vinyl Graphics
Alpha Restaurant Technologies - Quad Cities
White Pigeon Creative – Videography
Giraffe Photography – Photography
DJ Candela
Letty Martinez – Balloons
As well as:
City of Moline Government
City of Moline - Community & Economic Development Department
All city inspectors
Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati
Moline Alderpersons Dan McNeil, Matt Timion, Anna Castro, and Alvaro Macias
Silvis Mayor Robert Cervantes
Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Jesse Noriega & Sebastian Mireles
Mercado On Fifth: Frances Williams & Antonio Varela
Hola America
KWQC TV6 News
WQAD
Quad-City Times
Muscatine Journal
Bettendorf News
