It was her dream to open Mexican snack shop in Fresno. Step inside Lety’s Antojitos

Lety Calderón always dreamed of owning her own business.

An immigrant from Michoacán, México, Calderón felt it seemed impossible for her to launch her own business in the U.S. But then she learned about the Confia Program from the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the growth and prosperity of Hispanic-owned businesses in the Fresno area.

With the help of the Confia program, her longtime goal became reality and, on Feb. 28, Calderón celebrated the grand opening of Lety’s Antojitos.

“Sometimes we have that fear. We fear that maybe this isn’t for us, but if we seek guidance and help, it may be possible,” said Calderón, who came to the United States at age 16.

Located at 5769 S. Elm Ave, in the Easton area south of Fresno, Lety’s Antojitos offers traditional “antojitos,” or Mexican snacks, refreshing “aguas frescas,” food items like tortas (Mexican sandwiches), piñatas, candies and personalized event decoration services for weddings, birthdays and quinceañeras.

Among the snacks and “Antojitos” you can find Tostilocos, Fresas con Crema (Strawberries with Cream), Ice Cream, Bionicos (fruit cocktails), Esquites (corn kernels), Fruit cups, Corn in a cup, Hot Cheetos, Frappuccinos, Tostinachos, and pickled pig skin cocktails.

“There’s a variety of snacks, and people come and like them. But the most popular ones are the strawberries with cream and the tostilocos, And mangoneadas too.” said Calderón who celebrated the grand opening of her business on Feb. 28. “The fruit, the mangoneadas, the textilocos—all of that, we prepare it for the community to enjoy.”

At Lety’s Antojitos, snacks range from $3 for a scoop of ice cream to $15 for a Piña Colada, a non-alcoholic drink that includes pineapple water, pineapple, whipped cream and strawberry.

Strawberries with cream and tostilocos, the best-selling “antojitos,” are $10.

Strawberries and cream include condensed milk, coconut, granola, whipped cream, “and a prepared cream that I make to give it that ‘nice touch,’” said Calderón.

The second most popular snack, tostilocos, is a bag of Tostitos or Takis chips with jicama, cucumber, cornmeal, peanuts, mango, candy and chamoy.

The mangoneadas are also among the best-sellers on the menu and feature mango ice cream (mango pulp), chamoy, tajín, and mango.

Calderón’s journey to opening her own business began by selling makeup products and flowers.

What started as creating party decorations for her children turned into a business for Calderón, who added dessert and fruit tables to her offerings.

Then the opportunity came to open her “antojitos” business, with the support of her husband Jesús Calderón, a milestone that transformed her dream into reality.

“It became a dream come true for us to have this business. As an immigrant, I feel content; I feel happy to have a business here in this country,” Calderón said. “It’s a family business where our children help us, too, and my husband as well. Together we work toward this dream, and we’re here to serve the community.”

Details:

Lety’s Antojitos

Monday-Sunday (10-7 pm.)

5769 S. Elm Ave, Fresno, CA 93706

This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "It was her dream to open Mexican snack shop in Fresno. Step inside Lety’s Antojitos."

María G. Ortiz-Briones

The Fresno Bee

559-441-6782

María G. Ortiz-Briones is a reporter and photographer for McClatchy’s Vida en el Valle publication and the Fresno Bee. She covers issues that impact the Latino community in the Central Valley. She is a regular contributor to La Abeja, The Bee’s free weekly newsletter on Latino issues. | María G. Ortiz-Briones es reportera y fotógrafa de la publicación Vida en el Valle de McClatchy y el Fresno Bee. Ella cubre temas que impactan a la comunidad latina en el Valle Central. Es colaboradora habitual de La Abeja, el boletín semanal gratuito de The Bee sobre temas latinos. Support my work with a digital subscription