Irma Tomas prepares food at Doña Camila, a local restaurant and grocery store, Wednesday in Carbondale.

“I started as a dishwasher,” Tomas said. “But I made my way up to head cook.”

Tomas, who co-owns the store with her brother, purchased the business just over a year ago after working at Tres Hombres, located around the corner, for 33 years.

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In addition to Doña Camila, the pair also owns two grocery stores and a nightclub in Union City, Tennessee, but Tomas said she enjoys Carbondale.

“I like the area,” she said. “It’s good to raise a family.”

Staff photographer Branda Mitchell can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Branda_Mitchell.

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