A grocery store that started with just 2,500 square feet eventually expanded into a 75,000-square-foot supermarket. That’s thirty times the original size!
And the whole story began with a couple who saw a need for familiar foods in their community.
The founders opened their first Virginia store in 1990, hoping to serve local shoppers seeking Latino groceries. Business wasn’t easy at first, but the operation gradually grew into a much larger neighborhood shopping destination.
Today, customers can browse fresh produce, meat, seafood, and international products. The business has also offered practical services beyond traditional grocery shopping, reflecting its connection to the surrounding community.
I find that kind of growth remarkable. A small family venture became a substantial supermarket, and its original mission of serving local families remains central to the story.
It All Started In A Space Smaller Than Some Living Rooms
Back in 1990, Carlos Castro opened Todos Supermarket on Route 1 in Woodbridge, Virginia. The store measured just 2,500 square feet, which is tiny by grocery standards.
Carlos and his wife, Gladis, built the business together from that small start. Think of a shop where every shelf had to earn its spot.
There was no room for wasted space or wasted effort.
Their goal was clear from the beginning. They wanted to serve Hispanic and international families who struggled to find foods from home.
Many neighbors missed the flavors of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
That focus gave Todos a real purpose. It wasn’t trying to copy the big chain stores down the road.
It was filling a gap that the chains often ignored.
I love that the name itself means everyone in Spanish. It sends a friendly message before you even reach the door.
Everybody is welcome, and everybody counts.
Small beginnings can feel humble, but they also teach smart lessons. Running a tiny shop means knowing customers by name and listening closely.
That habit would shape the whole story that followed. Honestly, the little store was the perfect training ground for something much bigger.
Three Doors Down Was The First Big Leap
Growth didn’t happen overnight. In 1996, the store moved into a 5,000-square-foot space only three doors from its first spot.
That’s a short walk but a huge jump. Doubling the floor space meant more aisles, more products, and more ways to help shoppers.
It also showed the Castros were ready to bet on their community.
The next chapter came with even bigger numbers. By 2011, the Woodbridge location had expanded to 50,000 square feet.
That’s twenty times the size of the original shop.
Then in 2016, another 25,000 square feet joined the building. The addition created what the family called a Community Business Center.
The total footprint reached 75,000 square feet in Marumsco Plaza.
Here’s a fun way to picture it. The first store could fit inside the current building about thirty times.
Not bad for a family business that started with one small room.
Each step came after years of steady work. Nothing about the climb feels rushed or flashy.
I find that pace pretty inspiring for anyone dreaming about a business of their own. Slow, careful growth clearly paid off here in a very big way.
Your Shopping List Can Travel Across A Whole Continent
Plantains, tropical fruits, and Caribbean seasonings share the floor at Todos Supermarket. The store stocks foods from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
The produce section is a big part of the appeal. You’ll find a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including items that regular chains rarely carry.
It’s a great place to hunt for ingredients a recipe from home demands.
Fresh meats and seafood have their own important spots too. The butcher area offers large cuts for family meals and weekend cooking.
Planning a big Sunday dinner suddenly gets a lot easier.
The store also carries handmade tortillas and cheeses from Central America and Mexico. Those are the kind of staples that make a meal taste right.
A good tortilla can make or break a taco night.
What I really like is how the shelves get stocked. Todos asks customers for feedback about which foods they want.
The team will even go out of its way to find specific products.
That means the store keeps growing with its shoppers. Try asking about something you miss from another country.
You might be pleasantly surprised next time you visit.
Save Room For The Salvadoran Cafe
Shopping hungry is risky, but here it might be a plan. The Marumsco Plaza store includes a cafe that mainly serves Salvadoran food.
It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That makes it handy whether you stop by early or after work.
A grocery trip and a meal can happen in the same visit.
Salvadoran cooking is known for comforting, homestyle dishes. Pan con pollo, a saucy chicken sandwich, is one of the famous favorites.
At Todos, it’s offered on weekends.
Weekend timing matters with a dish like that. If you want one, arriving earlier in the day seems like a smart move.
Popular homemade foods rarely wait around for latecomers.
I think the cafe adds a lot to the store’s personality. It turns a supermarket into a place where people actually sit and eat together.
That’s a warmer feeling than grabbing a sad snack at checkout.
It also helps first-timers learn about the food on the shelves. Tasting a dish can inspire you to cook it yourself later.
Then you just walk a few aisles and grab the ingredients. Talk about convenient.
Mail A Package, Then Grab Some Mangoes
Most grocery stores stop at food. This one keeps going with a whole lineup of everyday services.
The building houses a post office, so mailing a package fits right into your shopping trip. There’s also tax and accounting help.
That could save you a separate drive during tax season.
Money services are a big deal here too. Customers can use wire transfers through RIA, MoneyGram, and Vigo.
Check cashing, bill payment, and notary services are available as well.
For many families, sending money to relatives abroad is part of regular life. Having that service next to the groceries is incredibly practical.
These services often keep longer hours than traditional banks.
The list doesn’t end there. You’ll also find translation services, an insurance agency, and a travel agency.
A barber and other businesses operate on the second floor too.
This is the Community Business Center idea in action. The 2016 expansion gave these services a proper home under one roof.
I can’t imagine a more efficient errand day.
Here’s a tip. Make a list of everything you need done before heading over.
You might check off half your week in one stop.
Spend Enough And Your Groceries Get A Ride Home
Free rides and grocery bags make a surprisingly great pair. Todos Supermarket offers a Free Ride Home service for customers who spend above a set amount.
The ride covers homes within a five-mile radius of the Woodbridge store. That’s a real help for shoppers without a car.
It’s also handy when your cart gets heavier than planned.
Think about hauling a week of groceries on a bus. Milk, rice, and a big bag of potatoes add up fast.
A ride home turns that struggle into a simple trip.
I love perks like this because they show who a business is thinking about. It isn’t a gimmick for show.
It solves a real problem for real neighbors.
This kind of service fits the Castro family’s long history of community activism. Carlos Castro has been known for caring about the people around his store.
The ride program is one practical example of that care.
A smart move is to plan your big shopping trip around it. Buy your heavy staples at once instead of in small runs.
Your back, and your schedule, will thank you later.
A Family Business In The Truest Sense
Behind the shelves sits a real family team. Carlos and Gladis Castro run the business with help from their children and other relatives.
That family feeling reaches beyond blood relatives. Todos treats employees like family, with good benefits and chances to grow.
Plenty of businesses say that, but here it’s part of the core story.
The staff is diverse and reflects the community it serves. That matters in a store where shoppers come from many countries.
Being understood at the counter can make a big difference.
Friendly service is one of the store’s strongest points. Helpful workers make a large building feel smaller and easier to explore.
Don’t be shy about asking where something is.
Music often plays while people shop, which adds a lively mood. Grocery shopping doesn’t usually feel festive.
A good soundtrack can change that quickly.
The business has also earned recognition for resilience and entrepreneurial success. Surviving more than three decades in the grocery world is no small feat.
Big chains keep the competition fierce.
I believe the family approach is the secret ingredient. It keeps decisions personal and customers close.
That’s hard to copy with a corporate rulebook.
Set Your GPS For Route 1 In Prince William County
Finding the store is easy once you know the road. Todos Supermarket sits at 13905 Richmond Hwy, Woodbridge, VA 22191.
Longtime locals may know this stretch as Jefferson Davis Highway or simply Route 1. The store is located in Marumsco Plaza.
It’s the same corridor where the very first tiny shop opened in 1990.
I love that detail. The business grew huge without leaving the neighborhood that helped it start.
That kind of loyalty is rare in Virginia retail.
The parking lot is large, which helps on busy shopping days. Big lots make loading groceries a lot less stressful.
Nobody enjoys circling for a space with melting ice cream.
Woodbridge sits in Prince William County in Northern Virginia. It’s a convenient stop for folks traveling the busy Route 1 corridor.
A quick detour could be well worth it.
There’s also a second Woodbridge location on River Ridge Boulevard that opened around 2022. Still, the Richmond Highway store is the one with the full growth story.
That’s where the 75,000-square-foot building stands today. If you want the classic experience, head straight there.
Early Birds And Night Owls Both Win Here
Seven days a week, the doors open at 7 a.m. Todos Supermarket stays open until 9:30 p.m. every single day.
Those hours work for nearly any schedule. Early risers can grab breakfast at the cafe before work.
Late shoppers can still pick up dinner ingredients after a long day.
Weekends deserve special planning. That’s when the famous pan con pollo shows up at the cafe.
Combine a weekend meal with your big grocery run for a perfect outing.
Before you go, think about what you want to accomplish. Do you need to mail something, send money, or get a document notarized?
Bring the right papers so every errand goes smoothly.
Also bring curiosity. Wander the aisles and look for one ingredient you’ve never tried.
It’s a fun, low-cost way to learn about another culture’s cooking.
When I think about this whole story, the numbers still amaze me. It started with 2,500 square feet and a big idea in Virginia.
Now it’s 75,000 square feet of food, services, and community spirit. Not a bad return on one couple’s dream.
