Since opening on June 7, Mi Corazon Mexican Grill has become an attraction in the center of Greenfield.

The establishment features a dining room and an expansive menu and is proudly Mexican-owned. As one of the founding partners of the Mi Jalisco franchise, Mi Corazon owner Karla Gutierrez has made her career in Latin cuisine. Born in Mexico, Gutierrez moved to the United States as a child and was raised across the American Southwest. She came to New Hampshire as a visiting 19-year-old.

“I helped friends that I met in San Diego move to New Hampshire,” said Gutierrez. “Out of everybody that came, I was the only one that stayed.”

Growing up in San Diego and Arizona, New Hampshire was a welcome change of pace for Gutierrez.

“New Hampshire was everything I wanted: full mountains, snow, four seasons, just beautiful,” she said.

The menu of Mi Corazon features popular classics as well as some more unique items.

“We’re trying to do more authentic [dishes],” said Gutierrez. “A lot of people have traveled to Mexico and understand the palette. So that’s what we’re trying to bring.”

Sopes, open-face masa tortillas covered in a variety of toppings, are featured at Mi Corazon. The staple of Mexican cuisine is not a common menu item in the area.

“We have sopes that a lot of the locations local[ly] don’t have,” said Gutierrez. “[They are] one of our main ones that I don’t think anybody around here has.”

Despite being involved in ownership of eateries as distant as Fort Lauderdale, Mi Corazon and Greenfield have been a particularly memorable experience for Gutierrez.

“I think it’s one of the places that as soon as we pulled up, we fell in love with it,” she said. “Just the fact that it had a patio, it had a lot of potential.”

Once the location was established, Gutierrez and her partners got to work on making the space their own. Daniel, an owner of the establishment alongside Gutierrez, is responsible for the construction and decoration of the interior. Eduardo, who is also a proprietor, serves as the head chef of the restaurant. Alma and Mercedez work as management staff, as well as being a part of the five-person ownership.

“What makes us a little different is that we work it,” said Gutierrez. “Just the fact that we put so much love into what we do. You’ll see management working, [and] owners working.”

Gutierrez emphasized her appreciation for the Greenfield area.

“We can’t even ask for anything more,” she said. “The town has been very welcoming and very helpful.”

Gutierrez says her long-term hope for the establishment is for the restaurant to be taken over by her own children and those of the partners.

“We’re family owned and we treat everybody else as we like to be treated,” she said.

The restaurant is at 4 Slip Road in Greenfield. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Brunch is served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.