Today we’re excited to be connecting with Vivian Trejo again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.
Vivian, we are so thrilled to be connecting again and can’t wait to hear about all the amazing things you have been up to. Before we jump into all of that, some of our readers might have missed our prior interview, so can you take a moment to reintroduce yourself?
My name is Vivian Trejo, and I am the proud owner of Main Street Emporium-Ice Cream & Coffee.
Our shop has has experienced many changes—not just in what we sell but in the role we play in the community. The biggest accomplishment thus far, has been seeing the shop become a community center. I’ve always wanted to create a space where people can unplug, connect with their loved ones, and feel at home. Seeing that vision come to life has been the greatest reward. We are more than just a coffee or ice cream shop. To some, we are their third place.
While this all started as a collaborative family effort with Michael & Bryan, they have since decided to pursue their own dreams. Both have played a huge role into what this business has become today and I will always be grateful for their support. Beyond business, I’ve grown personally and professionally. I am now a proud Board Member of the Royse City Tri-County Chamber of Commerce and the Royse City Heritage Preservation Board, I have also taken roles in the Royse City Young Professionals and Women Empowered Committees within our Chamber. These opportunities have helped me build relationships, develop new skills, and contribute to something bigger than myself. I have enjoyed collaborating with our business neighbors planning community events and getting to see the streets of Downtown Royse city filled with local families.
Main Street Emporium is heading into year six, and to be honest, it feels like we are just getting started. My faith in God, the support of my family(especially my parents & kids) and the encouragement of the community has been the foundation of everything we’ve accomplished so far. Looking ahead, I’m most excited about continuing to grow and evolve the business, creating new experiences for our customers, and inspiring others—especially young women and fellow Latinas—to chase their dreams. I really hope to make a meaningful impact in our town helping other businesses thrive while contributing to the growth and unity of Royse City.
Awesome, so we reached out because we wanted to hear all about what you have been up to since we last connected.
“Treat Yourself.” That is our motto here at Main Street Emporium. Since day one and it has never changed. As far as everything else, it has been a journey filled with many challenges and transformation. All the good, the bad, and even the ugly have been all a part of what made Main Street Emporium what it is today. The biggest milestone for us was taking over the coffee business from our retiring neighbors at The Well Coffee shop right next door. Jenn & Kari blessed us with the amazing opportunity to add coffee to our menu. Coffee not only revitalized our business but also sparked a newfound passion and creativity in me.
Main Street Emporium has faced many challenges, including navigating the hardships of COVID, but the incredible support of our community has been our lifeline. During this time, we decided to end the donut side of our business. We experimented with candy, soda, and even popcorn. It was adding coffee that was a game-changer for us. Experimenting with flavors, designing graphics, and bringing ideas to life has been an incredibly fulfilling process.
Aside from the menu changes, our interior space is always evolving. We’ve tried our best to create a space where we can host small groups, meetings, and community events. Our annual Photos with Santa, is one of ours and the communities favorites. From, mom-groups, bible studies, and even team parties, we are always honored to be a place where people chose to gather. Through these gatherings, we have met so many other entrepreneurs. Which inspired us to add retail displays to help support small business owners and their craft. In collaboration with a local family, we are the proud home of The Bookcase, a tiny used bookstore right inside Main Street Emporium. This brings a variety of affordable book options for toddlers all the way to adults. We even have a small section that features local artist, like local author Wes Hamby, that started Little Future Books publishing company along with a new children’s book series “Elvis Wants To Fly!”, inspired by the life of his own dog. With low prices and constant rotation of titles, this has been a great addition to the community.
We are currently working on expanding our pastry menu and I am really excited about it. My favorite thing has been our Cookie Butter Conchas (mexican sweet bread). It has been really fun adding a twist and can’t wait to incorporate more of our culture into our store. Here at Main Street Emporium the possibilities are endless, and through God’s grace we will continue to evolve and serve the community any way we can.
We also want to give folks a chance to get to know you a bit better so we’ve prepared a fun lightning round of questions. Ready?
- Favorite Movie: The Great Gatsby
- Favorite Book: The Holy Bible
- Favorite TV Show: One Tree Hill
- Favorite Band or Artist: Feng Suave & Kali Uchis
- Sweet or Savory: Savory
- Mountains or Beach: Beach with a mountain background
- Favorite Sport (to watch): Formula 1
- Favorite Sport (to play): Soccer
- Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Soccer & Cheer
- As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: Anesthesiologist
- French Fries or Onion Rings: French Fries
- Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Chuck!
- Favorite Cartoon growing up: Arthur
- Favorite Childhood movie: Paulie
- Favorite Breakfast Food: Bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit from Mcdonald’s
Life is often about tough choices – can you talk to us about your thought process, strategy or philosophy when it comes to making difficult choices or tradeoffs.
Tough choices are inevitable, and it took me a long time to learn how to approach them rationally. I’ve found that it’s essential to take a step back, think things through, and not react purely on instinct. As I’ve moved through different seasons of life—becoming an adult, raising kids, and owning a business—It became very important to consider the people around me, not just myself. That mindset shift always pushed me towards the right direction.
The real game-changer for me, though, was learning to put my trust in God’s plan and seek Him for guidance. I used to drive myself crazy worrying about all the ‘what ifs’ and ‘how tos,’ but I’ve found so much peace in giving those moments to God through prayer. Trusting Him to guide me in the right direction has been transformative. When I finally ‘let go and let God,’ I was filled with a peace that carried me through even the most difficult seasons of life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 has been a verse I hold close: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.’ It reminds me that I don’t have to navigate tough decisions alone—God’s guidance is always there when I seek it. It’s not always easy, but I hope my journey shows that even when life knocks you down, you can always rise with faith and determination. I’m ready to take on whatever comes next with open arms and a grateful heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emporiumrctx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emporiumrctx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emporiumrctx
- Twitter: https://x.com/emporiumrctx
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/main-street-emporium-royse-city
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uHjwEYzZ2auynPfu9
