In the heart of Tucson, one local family has turned their individual passions into a flourishing trio of businesses, thanks in part to a local initiative that connects small business owners with lenders.

Di Luna Candles began as a pandemic quarantine project for owner María-José Cortés, but quickly evolved into a full-time enterprise with a brick-and-mortar location in midtown.

The inspiration for Di Luna came from María-José’s mother, Josefina Cortés, and her longtime brand JC Jewels, which started 18 years ago when Josefina’s husband surprised her with a small collection of jewelry he brought back from a work trip to Guadalajara. 

Ángel Cortés encouraged his wife to sell the pieces, and Josefina began showcasing them at holiday markets in Nogales.

As children, María-José and and her sister, María-Inés Cortés, helped their mother, and that early exposure ignited a lasting passion for entrepreneurship that ultimately inspired their own successful business.

María-José runs Di Luna alongside María-Inés, with the pair saying they’ve built a business that reflects their dedication to quality and cultural heritage.

Di Luna Candles specializes in handcrafted, eco-friendly candles with a focus on unique scents that evoke warmth and comfort and are often inspired by the family’s Mexican heritage. The brand has built a loyal following and attracts customers both locally and online.

María-Inés works as store manager, and Josefina and her son also help out. 

“I think it’s nice that we get the opportunity, because not a lot of people get the opportunity to work with their loved ones. It just makes coming to work a lot nicer,” María-José said. 

María-Inés also collaborates with her mother to create jewelry for JC Jewels, drawing inspiration from their heritage and culture.Their mission is to provide versatile jewelry that can be worn every day, with their pieces being sold at Di Luna Candles, Barista Del Barrio and other shops in Tucson and Nogales. 

“We've all played a little bit of a role in everybody's business,” María-Inés said. “If my dad would have never brought those pieces, I don't think it would have started like that to begin with.”

Two years ago, when Ángel and Josefina moved to Tucson to be closer to their children, he decided to pursue his dream of starting a small catering business. With 24 years of experience in customs brokerage, warehousing and freight services, he was eager for a new direction.

With strong support from his daughters and their connections with non-profit organizations, Ángel secured funding to grow his business. His catering company, Señor Taco, has been up and running for 18 months and has been known to sell out at events.

“I know here in Tucson, people love Mexican food and I have experience,” Ángel said. “I love to cook for every event and for family events in my home.”

His culinary creations are deeply rooted in family tradition, drawing on authentic recipes from Mexico that have been passed down from his mother and wife. Some of his favorite dishes include birria, chicken tinga and cilantro rice, each reflecting the rich flavors of his heritage. 

To support their business ventures, all three of the Cortés family businesses have benefited from Kiva Tucson Hub, a local initiative that offers zero-interest microloans to small business owners in Southern Arizona, connecting them with community lenders eager to help them grow.  

“The application process was fairly easy,” María-José said. “It’s crowdfunded, so people can lend you money instead of donating it and as you’re making your payments these people are getting paid back as you’re paying your loan.”

Her advice to other aspiring small business owners is to “dive in and study every aspect of the business,” then look into non-profit organizations within the community for resources.

“If you believe in your business just go for it,” she said. “Do it without fear.”

Isabela Gamez is a University of Arizona alum and reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at gamezi@arizona.edu.