New Business Profile: On the Heights, Tropicali Fruit satisfies ‘cravings’ for Mexico

“This” is over 25 “antojitos,” or “cravings,” featuring fresh fruit in a variety of configurations, with names like fresas con crema, manzana de chamoy and fruta rallada. Every part of Mexico has different antojitos, and Tropicali Fruit strives to feature them all. The menu is frequently updated.

While not common throughout the United States, such shops are staples in both Mexico and California.

“We hope people will come to check us out,” Sylvia said. “Windsurfers know a lot of this stuff (because they’ve traveled to Mexico), but some will walk in and walk out — they don’t know what it is.”

Everything is made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Shredded fruit, including mango, cucumber, coconut, jicama and papaya, are typically sprinkled with chili powder — “Most Hispanic people like anything with chili,” Sylvia explained — but the cups can be made to order, with or without the spicy topping.

“We can improvise anything,” she added.

Besides antojitos, Tropicali Fruit features juices and sorbets — one of their biggest seller is mango de nikita, or mango sorbet.

“People cannot get enough,” Sylvia said, noting the store goes through 12 three gallon ice cream buckets of the sorbet each week.

This summer, the couple will add a freezer to sell popular Mexican ice cream flavors, coconut, guava and mango among them.

Weekdays after 3 p.m. are the busiest times, as are weekends. Phone orders are common — and so are customers coming from The Dalles. Because of the shop’s popularity, the couple hopes to expand to The Dalles with a tentative March 2016 date in mind.

Tropicali Fruit is located at 1217 12th Street and is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The store is currently closed on Mondays, although Sylvia expects that to change this spring. For more information, call 541-399-7400.