Support La Cocina's Staff After Fire

I wanted to take a moment to share the incredible backstory of Alexandra and Randy, the owners of La Cocina Mexican Grill.

In 2014, they moved to Michigan to help care for Randy’s mother, who was suffering from MS and dementia. At the time, opening a restaurant was never part of their plans.

By 2017, Randy was delivering fuel for Marathon Petroleum out of Muskegon, while Alexandra worked at a gas station in Trufant and helped care for her mother-in-law. That same year, family friends offered them the opportunity to purchase a closed ice cream café. With a lot of hard work, they renovated the space and transformed it into a small Mexican café.

Cooking had always been Alexandra’s passion, and owning a restaurant in America was her dream. While Randy continued hauling fuel, he also dedicated himself to helping run the restaurant. Together, they were determined to make it thrive. The community embraced them with open arms, and Alexandra quickly became a beloved part of Trufant.

In 2019, they obtained their liquor license, and the restaurant needed to expand. Over the next couple of years, they built two separate additions—all while keeping the restaurant open. Customers were never bothered by the construction; instead, they were excited to see the progress.

After the first expansion, Alexandra achieved a major milestone—she became a U.S. citizen. To celebrate, Randy and the staff threw a citizenship party, inviting close friends and regular customers. Word of the celebration spread quickly. When they returned from the ceremony that evening, they were met with an overwhelming surprise—the entire community had packed the restaurant to show their love and support for Alexandra.

As the restaurant grew, Randy eventually left Marathon to focus on La Cocina full-time. Before the fire, the restaurant could seat 75 people inside and another 75 on the deck. In the summer, it was the go-to spot—customers would even dock their boats at the boardwalk just to enjoy a meal on the deck.

Alexandra and Randy are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from the Trufant community. What started as Alexandra’s dream has become something far greater than they could have ever imagined. The community has been there from the very beginning—watching the restaurant grow and celebrating Alexandra’s journey to citizenship.

When you walk through the doors of La Cocina, you’re greeted with: “Welcome to La Cocina, sit wherever you’d like.” From that moment on, you’re treated like family. And at La Cocina, family isn’t just a word—it’s a way of life. Most of the staff have been there for over five years, and turnover is rare because of the deep bonds they’ve built. The restaurant is always filled with laughter, as the staff playfully banter with one another and with customers. They aren’t just coworkers—they’re sisters. They support one another in every way, whether it’s helping a single mom pick up her child, bringing soup to a sick coworker, or simply spending time together outside of work.

That same bond was evident on Thursday when tragedy struck, and the restaurant was engulfed in flames. Phones rang nonstop as people checked in to make sure the staff was safe. Many rushed to the restaurant, not just to witness the damage but to be there for one another. La Cocina wasn’t just a place of work—it was a second home. The staff wasn’t just responsible for running the restaurant; they took ownership of its success. In fact, if you walked in, you wouldn’t even be able to tell who the owners were—because everyone was treated as equals.

When Alexandra received the heartbreaking call about the fire, the devastation she felt was unimaginable. But she and Randy want to assure their Trufant family that while La Cocina may be wounded, this is not the final chapter. They will rebuild.

The past few days have been incredibly stressful as they deal with the aftermath of this tragic event. While the restaurant is covered by insurance, their employees’ wages are not. That’s why La Cocina is starting a GoFundMe to help support the staff during this difficult time. Any contribution from the community would mean the world to them.

You can find the GoFundMe link on the La Cocina Mexican Grill Facebook page.

La Cocina has set a preliminary grand reopening for Cinco de Mayo, and updates will be posted regularly on their Facebook page: @LaCocinaMexicanGrill.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your continued love and support.

With love,

Your La Cocina Mexican Grill Family