Fuentes Tesoros

“Coins have history,” says Manuel Fuentes of Fuentes Tesoros retail business in Plaza Vigil. Mr. Fuentes has been collecting Mexican coins and other treasures of antiquity for at least 25 years. In the past he visited Mexico and brought home rare treasures to display in his house. “My friends told me my house looked like a museum,” he said. Mr. Fuentes first thought of creating a business around his hobby when he had friends interested in what he did. He helped them find metal detectors and told them how to find treasures when they went back to Mexico. In 1997 he opened his business in his house, selling on E-bay and to customers he knew by word of mouth.

Mr. Fuentes was a school bus driver while he pursued his treasure hunting hobbies and began his business. “I never thought I was going to get into this,” he said, “I just wanted to be a collector but one day it just clicked for me that I could probably open a store and sell metal detectors.” Mr. Fuentes also noticed that no coin collecting and treasure hunting business catered to the Spanish-speaking community. After operating his business for seven years from his house Mr. Fuentes was ready to expand and open a store. He had heard about El Pájaro CDC’s Plaza Vigil and applied to open his business. After waiting one year for a space to become available for him, Mr. Fuentes moved into the Plaza Vigil.

Mr. Fuentes really does have treasures on display at Fuentes Tesoros in Plaza Vigil. He displays his coins and other antiques that he has collected over the years. He sells metal detectors and all treasure hunting equipment, including reference books. He also appraises coins for people who hunt for treasures and occasionally comes across important finds. Mr. Fuentes was surprised that the Watsonville market would include United States coins as well as Mexican coins. “Since I opened the shop I noticed that people here are more interested in coin collecting here in the United States than they are in Mexico,” he said.

Mr. Fuentes says that the most important business concepts he has learned from the El Pájaro CDC classes and consulting are how to serve his customers, how to display and market his merchandise, and how to manage his employees. “I liked the idea that El Pájaro CDC has helped me and my business to get more organized and get my employees organized,” Mr. Fuentes said, “I have been taking my employees to the classes too. I think El Pájaro CDC has some very professional people teaching us. Basically, all the business classes help in how to become better at operating your business.”

Visit Manuel at 19 E. Beach Street Watsonville in Plaza Vigil

831-724-0882