Welcome to Casa ELM, a Black-owned luxury, adults-only, community-facing boutique in San Miguel de Allende. Focused on expanding the horizons for Black expats looking to make the move, this space screams exquisite.
“Enjoy a glass of wine on one of two balconies, spend time stretching and meditating in the meditation studio, stretch out with a book on the daybed or simply relax under the Guayacán tree in our serene enclosed private yard,” reads the website introduction, a fitting description of the restful and exquisite vibes.
With the perfect balance of responsible relocation, respect for tradition, and a luxurious stay in one of Mexico’s most romantic colonial towns, Casa Elm is a dream. There is no better way to learn about the culture you’re in than to immerse in it. This, at least, is CEO and Founder Michelle Wedderburn’s idea as she guides many a Black expat through this city. Get to know Casa ELM and all of the goodness awaiting on the lesser explored side of Mexico.
What prompted you to open Casa Elm?
When I first moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in 2018, I instantly wanted to create retreats for women. Retreats and experiences that helped us to self love, indulge in life, and learn to reset. I didn’t have an exact plan at that time, had never hosted a retreat, but knew in my heart of hearts, bringing women together in this city, this city that I re-fell in love with since my first visit in 2005, I just knew that I needed to be a part of something positive in San Miguel. The energy here was so different from other places that I had visited and lived in. At that point, getting settled into life in San Miguel (SMA), I took more than a few months, contrary to what I had originally expected, and in December 2019 when I started planning for a mid-2020 retreat, COVID hit.
During 2019 and 2020 the world changed and so did my vision. The wiper blades came on and my purpose became a bit more clear. I saw so many people online asking questions about Mexico, what it was like to live in Mexico, racism in Mexico, and so I quickly realized that I had to fulfill some of my purpose by providing insight into our life in Mexico, but through the lens of a person of color.
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