Photos: Joy at Rica Arepa

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Rincón dances at Rica Arepa's anniversary party.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Seven-year-old Sofia Avendaño naps during Rica Arepa 's one-year anniversary party.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Maria Uzcategui, 22, and her husband, Kharim Rincón, 24, blow out candles at a party for Rica Arepa
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Emmanuel Arrieta and his daughter Pierina dance at Rica Arepa's anniversary party. Uzcategui and Rincón played a key role in helping Emmanuel and his wife open their own Venezuelan-Puerto Rican restaurant.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Julia Velazquez holds her daughter at the restaurant, a nucleus for Chicago's scattered Venezuelan community.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Sofia McMahill drinks passion fruit juice during her family's first visit to Rica Arepa in early December.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Greg McMahill, who drove from Naperville to try the restaurant's authentic Venezuelan food, holds his son in the renovated dining room.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Uzcategui and Rincón dance at Rica Arepa's anniversary party.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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A guest tacks a bolívar note, Venezuela’s hyperinflated former currency, to the wall at Rica Arepa.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Uzcategui and Rincón show off their handywork
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Uzcategui runs orders during a lunch rush.
Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Photo: Geoff Stellfox
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Photo: Geoff Stellfox

At the Hermosa storefront, a young couple slings tasty cornmeal sandwiches — and for many Venezuelan immigrants, recreates a world that no longer exists. Read the full story here.

February 15, 2019, 12:00 pm

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