Hidden Gems: Meet Ella Ghisletti of Espacio Macondo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ella Ghisletti.

Hi Ella, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a migrant, I’ve found that the hardest part isn’t learning a new language or adapting to new flavors—it’s preserving our roots. For me, as a booklover, one of the biggest challenges was finding books in Spanish. They’re often hard to access, expensive, and come with long delays.
That’s why I created Espacio Macondo. We’re here to solve this problem by providing a complete catalog of Spanish-language books, available in the U.S. on the same release dates as in Mexico. But we’re more than a bookstore—we’re a cultural hub, offering workshops in Spanish that bring our community together.
We’ve already established our first physical location here in Raleigh. Long term, we want to grow Espacio Macondo into an ecommerce retailer and also a space where families and individuals can connect, learn, and celebrate their heritage.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I came from Argentina 5 years ago and at the end of 2024 I found the resourses to open my business. I’m really thankful with 51labs and Raleigh Parks for provided a program* designed just for migrants, and help us in our way.
They also introduced me with Sarah Davis, a local enterpreuner, who became my mentor.

It’s not an easy way, but it’s worth it.

*The name is Business Bloom

We’ve been impressed with Espacio Macondo, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Finding Spanish books in the U.S. is surprisingly challenging. High prices, limited availability, and long wait times make it difficult for people to access the books they want. Many people rely on Amazon or wait for family members to bring books from abroad. Beyond books, there are limited cultural resources in Spanish for children, young adults, and adults alike, which leaves a gap for those who want to learn, connect, or simply enjoy their language and culture. Espacio Macondo aims to be the bridge for this community need.
That’s why I created Espacio Macondo. We’re here to solve this problem by providing a complete catalog of Spanish-language books, available in the U.S. on the same release dates as in Mexico. But we’re more than a bookstore—we’re a cultural hub, offering workshops in Spanish, from storytelling to language learning, that bring our community together.
Here’s the reality: the U.S. Hispanic community, over 60 million strong, faces limited access to Spanish-language resources. In North Carolina alone, where we’re starting, there are over 1 million Latinos, yet there’s a gap in accessible, affordable books and cultural activities.
Espacio Macondo is eliminating that gap. We’re building partnerships with Mexican publishers to bring books directly to our customers. Our revenue streams include book sales, ticketed workshops, and events like storytime and book releases. And we’re building a scalable, online-first model to grow beyond North Carolina and serve the broader U.S. Latino community.

Extra info: I have a Bachelor degree in Politics, I consider myself a Book Lover.
Living here with my husband and 3 years old daughter.
Social media: @ellaghfar @espaciomacondo

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
For migrants, open a business is a huge step. Sometimes is really hard for us to access to the information and we risk our savings trying to make it right.
As I said, I was very lucky to find some amazing people along the way and I’m really thankful for that. I started (with another latino friends) to help latino women to open their own business, providing resourses, workshops and safe spaces to share.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://espaciomacondo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espaciomacondo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568200202288