'Only way I've found to survive:' Owner faces months of rebuilding stolen food trailer

Owning her own restaurant was something Marcelina Soriano had dreamed about even before she came to the United States from Mexico at 14 years old.

Born in Puebla, a city in east-central Mexico known for its signature cuisine, Soriano long nurtured a passion for cooking and aspired to one day share her own recipes and dishes with others. That dream became reality about a decade ago, when her family bought a trailer and converted it into a food kitchen whose tacos and other Mexican fare has made it a staple in the Clintonville neighborhood.

But early Saturday morning, her dream and livelihood was abruptly taken from her and her family when someone stole the La Poblanita food trailer from its home in a parking lot on Indianola Avenue. Soriano and family members reclaimed the trailer Monday from the Columbus police impound lot after it was found dumped elsewhere, but discovered that the inside had been gutted of its cooking equipment and other parts.

Gone was the grill, the refrigerator, the ventilation system and more. It could be months, they said, until they're able to rebuild their business and reopen to the public.

La Poblanita a popular lunch, dinner stop in Clintonville

The prospect is devastating to Soriano, 52, who was sobbing late Monday morning as she left the Columbus police impound lot on the South Side. Having seen moments earlier the state of her ransacked food trailer, she hugged her four sons — Armani, 30; Leo, 28; Jesus, 21; and Cris, 20 — who have for years served as co-owners of the family business.

"It's my life, it's financial stability for my family, my sons," Soriano said in Spanish as son Armani translated for her.

"It's the only way I've found to survive."

When the Soriano family first bought the trailer, it took about a year to outfit it with the necessary appliances and other equipment to convert it into a food truck.

Known for its distinctive appearance, the La Poblanita truck's front exterior is painted in a bright yellow on the end where customers order. The other side displays a mural incorporating portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and the iconic Mexican mariachi singer Vicente Fernandez against a backdrop of the Mexican and American flags fused together.

For almost all of the nine years it's been open, La Poblanita has been stationed at 3825 Indianola Ave. between Northridge and Blenheim Roads. In that time, the business has become a popular lunch and dinner stop for numerous nearby residents who consider themselves regulars, including Briana and Colin Skinner.

The couple said they would patronize the business multiple times a week for years when they lived on Northridge Road. Though they've since moved in with Briana's parents in Powell with their two young sons — a 2-year- old and a 5-month-old — they still made a point of returning occasionally for a bite to eat.

"Those guys are so kind and we love the food," said Briana Skinner, 28. "It's just so sad to see that happen to a family. It's heartbreaking."

Neighbors use social media, GoFundMe to help La Poblanita owners

Jesus Soriano called 911 around 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning after his mother discovered that the trailer had been taken sometime early in the morning. A Columbus police incident report did not indicate that any suspects have been identified, and police officials have not released additional details to the public about the case.

When the Soriano family posted to La Poblanita's Instagram page about the food trailer being stolen, hundreds of people rallied to support them by donating money. By 2 p.m. Tuesday, more than 1,200 people have pledged more than $57,000 on GoFundMe to help the Soriano family regain what was lost.

Many people on social media also helped by turning up surveillance images and video of a red pickup truck believed to be responsible for hauling the food trailer away or providing tips on its location. It was one such tip Sunday afternoon that led the Soriano family to discover that the stolen food trailer was at the police impound lot.

Although the Soriano family lives on the West Side, Marcelina and her sons said they've developed a connection with the Clintonville community and feel grateful for the outpouring of support.

"The community means the world to us," Jesus Soriano said on Monday. "It's like family since we're there every day."

There were two other recent food truck thefts. One was reported at about 8 a.m. on Friday from the 4900 block of North High Street in Clintonville.

Another was reported stolen close to 1 p.m. Friday in the 100 block of South High Street Downtown. The keys had been left in that truck, according to Columbus police. That truck was found by Genoa Township police in the parking lot of a Kroger store in Genoa Township.

Dispatch reporter Mark Ferenchik contributed to this story.

Eric Lagatta is a reporter at the Columbus Dispatch covering public safety, breaking news and social justice issues. Reach him at elagatta@dispatch.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLagatta

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: La Poblanita food trailer recovered after stolen in Clintonville