Edith del Carmen Melgar migrated to Los Angeles, California in 2001 looking for a better opportunity to financially help her family in Armenia Sonsonate, El Salvador. Back home she was a merchant but due to family circumstances she could not do the same in Los Angeles. She started working as a dishwasher in a local restaurant where she quickly was eager to learn new things. Edith Melgar quickly moved up and learned how to prepare food and assisted the chef. Her high energy to wanting to do more motivated to start asking questions in managing a business. She started picking up double shifts to be able to save money with the dream of wanting to start her own business.

Edith Melgar found that opportunity in 2013 when she established Armenia Restaurant Inc., a small restaurant that served Salvadorean food in the community Southeast Los Angeles. In 2022 Mrs. Melgar sought the assistance of Southeast Los Angeles Business Source Center CRCD to help her sustain and grow her business. With the guidance of SELABSC, including market analysis, and permit expediting,and her high entrepreneurial spirit, Armenia Restaurant Inc has become a staple in the community with July marking the 11th year of when it was first opened.

When you step into Armenia Restaurant it is like taking a step into Armenia, Sonsonate El Salvador where Mrs. Melgar is from. Every wall has a hand painted mural that immerses you into the sights and sounds of Armenia Sonsonate culture. The menu is specially curated to represent what it would be like to eat in  El Salvador with even one YELP review stating “Best pupusas in LA hands down!” Throughout the years Mrs. Melgar has continued to update her restaurant and make it a place in the community that everyone can enjoy. She has continuously poured back into her restaurant by doing things such as updating her menu to add new cultural food and beverages, installing digital menu boards, updating the furniture and bathrooms, and adding murals to all the walls.

Armenia Sonsonate has done so well that she has expanded next door and is looking to have a grand opening celebration on August 3 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. She is hoping to use this space as extra seating, welcoming new families, and the community, hosting special celebrations, and a place for late night karaoke. Mrs. Melgar even partnered with the LAPD to be one of the first businesses to have all her employees trained on the new program in Los Angeles “Workplace Violence” to make her restaurant a safe place for the community.