Manila Mart has been a cornerstone of the Filipino community in the DMV since 1996, when Kuya Tony and his wife opened the store to provide Filipino groceries that were hard to find in the area at the time. In 2011, they expanded by adding a café, transforming it from a neighborhood grocery store into a true community gathering spot. Today, it’s where people stop for halo halo on a hot day, buy trays of lumpia for family parties, or simply come to reconnect over good food and familiar flavors. The next generation (hey Toni!) keeps it running today, but the heart of the place hasn’t changed: family-run, community-loved, and serving some of the best homestyle Filipino food in the DMV.

About the Artist

Mary Scarlett LaBerge is a graphic designer and illustrator with a special love for all things vintage and hand-drawn. Despite the incredible capabilities of tech, the human touch is what we connect with and remember. And that's what she tries to bring to every project.