Tiendas

Neighborhood Tiendas and small eateries are the engine of  the community. There are thousands of these small shops on just about every street corner.  They provide an important and necessary service to the neighborhoods and are an amazing distribution system of the basic needs, produce, tortillas, staples and every conceivable item that you may need. These Tiendas are often simple stores that families have created in their homes.  In every neighborhood it seems as though the community knows where to go to get their groceries or that specialty item.  

I don't know it to be true, but there also seems to be a loyalty to certain tiendas. Karen has specific neighborhoods and small markets that she likes and often uses for certain items. Some of these tiendas are no more than a few items like produce that families put out in front of their house to sell. It doesn't take much to start a tienda, so they spring up all over.   Recently, after a few days, I went back to the dump and found that even there a tienda magically appeared.

Tiendas are a cultural icon in Mexico, but like all things, change is occurring.  Sam's Club, Costco, OXXO and others continue to be an alternative. They will never fully replace the tiendas but do cause a controversy here in Zihuatanejo.

New Tienda at the Dump

Dump Tienda