After loss, Wenatchee shop owner carries on family soccer business

A shop slightly larger than a 20-foot shipping container in downtown Wenatchee has served as a gathering place for the region's soccer community for more than 20 years while remaining a family-run business.

Located at 6 S. Mission St., Futbol-Era Soccer Store was founded by Francisco Javier Cuevas. It is now owned by his wife, Mireya Cuevas, who took over the business after his death in spring 2025 of esophageal cancer.

The store carries a wide variety of soccer equipment and jerseys from teams in Spain, Mexico, England and other countries, as well as World Cup jerseys for fans supporting their favorite national teams.

"It was so nice that Seattle, it's hosting and we have a lot of customers buying their favorite jerseys so they can see and go watch their teams," Cuevas said. "I've been so happy to see all the unity in how unified people are right now with the World Cup."

In addition to jerseys, the store sells cleats, balls, gloves and other soccer accessories for ages 4 and older.

But what makes the store special, Cuevas said, is the community that has formed around it and the support it has received throughout North Central Washington.

Since taking over ownership, Cuevas said she has felt strong support from customers and local soccer organizations because of her husband's death.

"I appreciate every person who has been coming here, " Cuevas said. "When the kids see their favorite player, and they get so excited and tell me ‘Oh this is my favorite store,' that makes me so happy."

The World Cup has also boosted business, bringing an increase in customers visiting the store and placing online orders for jerseys from popular national teams. The store's most popular jerseys are those of the United States and Mexico. Customers also place orders from Oregon, California and Texas.

"A lot of people from out of town come here and I appreciate that," Cuevas said. "The connections stayed. I love when customers tell me ‘We remember your husband and we love the store.'"

The store maintains close ties with the local soccer community and regularly supports clubs, teams and soccer events throughout the region.

"They're helping me a lot, and I'm so thankful for them because it's been the rec teams, people from there, they help me a lot with giving gift cards to the kids. Even FA (Wenatchee Futbol Academy), they always help me a lot. The coaches and the academy, all the people that work there. Even Club America, too, there's a lot of people too from that club. All the high schools from Wenatchee, Cashmere and Quincy. I just want to say thank you to everyone that is supporting me, that I'm so thankful because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here."

The business remains family-run. Cuevas' children, Sophia and Leonardo, help at the store, along with several extended family members.

"My kids, they're always involved. I have a lot of family that's been helping me with the store. If it wasn't for them, this would not be possible just by myself."

Futbol-Era Soccer Store is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in downtown Wenatchee.

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