LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A Las Vegas shop is supplying uniforms, instruments and repairs to mariachi students and musicians across the Valley.
Juan Soto has worked in the business for almost 40 years. He said he first met some of his customers when they were middle school mariachi students. Those students are now teaching mariachi themselves in schools across Las Vegas.
“Okay, so Mariachi Depot, it’s a mariachi store, and we have everything that a mariachi can want, need. Or wish,” Soto said.
Uniforms, instruments and repairs
From trajes to sombreros to instruments, some of what mariachi groups and students across the Valley wear and use may have passed through Mariachi Depot.
“Needs a traje, earrings, monos, belts, shoes, anything for a mariachi,” Soto said.
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Soto and co-owner Claudia Rivera said theirs is the only store of its kind in the state.
“We do; we have a contract with CCSD, and so we repair most of the instruments. Also, we have contracts with other school districts in other states, like Utah, California,” they said.
Soto said he originally began by repairing instruments like guitars and violins but noticed a problem. Specialized mariachi instruments, like guitarrones, had to be sent to Texas or Arizona to be repaired.
“And then of the 39 schools in mariachi programs, every accident that happened, the instruments ended up here to be prepared,” Soto said.
A personal connection
Rivera and Soto are both immigrants from Mexico. They said the work is personal, helping a new generation growing up in the U.S. stay connected to the culture they brought with them.
“And having this type of store, where we showcase our culture and help all these new generations to keep loving our culture, it’s beyond words; it’s beautiful,” they said.
Mariachi Depot said it is working on a scholarship for graduating high school students involved in mariachi, with plans to launch it this school year.
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