Chedraui Owie

[DonJuane]

Toured the new Chedraui last night and in 10 words or less: "Bodega Aurrera size-x-5 with a great vegetable selection". For me that was it in a nutshell. Yes there were some winners and the isles were tough to see through with 6 people per square meter in front of each shelf but overall a severe letdown and I am sure in contrast (from the crowds) a great level of excitement for the locals. Of course my foolish dreams of another Queteraro City Market were laughable but at the same time I was expecting something a little more upscale (or at least a small section) than seen from a comparison to the northwestern part of town's half-stocked Soriana. When La Commercial or Sorianna or whatever it is called today (downtown GTO market close to Mercado Hidalgo) looks comparatively like a gourmet offering, this new market is not a lot to get excited about. Still the shiny and the new was overwhelming (as well as the over powered blasting band at the food court on entry) but the stacks of beans and other dried bag fare still in the shipping boxes with only the sides cut away from them as store displays still shouted, we must still be scratching our head at the Bodega Aurrera.

The entire time this thing was being built, the question among friends was always "how can they expect such an elaborate thing to go over in this neighborhood" and with knowing well the demographics of the area and the limits to my own pocket book, I had to agree. Who could afford such a new fancy shopping mall? Certainly not me. Still after being experienced traveling across Mexico it was sad that this iteration didn't offer at least one quarter of what other Chadrauis do that I've seen while driving or busing around Mexico. This local shop did however made it clear their targeted competition by displaying two shopping carts comparing the same shopping baskets with a Chadraui bill for 500 Pesos taped to one basket and a "Bodega Aurrera" bill taped to the other listed at 800 Pesos.

I'm constantly shamed for shunning these things, however. People always say to me to "let the people do what they want and enjoy what they want and if they want to go to the mall, then bless them and let them enjoy and just stay out of it" Still my mind cracks a bit and heart aches a bit wondering how is it that a community struggling to survive like most people in this area are and how long they will be able to funnel up every penny they make into the pockets of this country's well-to-do oligarchs rather than the local grocers that have kept them them fed and happily for decades. Or should I ask, were the residents here all simply busing up to the Bodega Aurrera before this thing showed up, while feeding the greedy pockets of the Walton oligarchs in the US instead? I'm not sure exactly how long this model of "poor feeding the rich" can last and while I believed the solidarity and small business mentality of some Mexican communities was just too tight to break up, the unveiling of this market and its success just proves that anywhere is fair game in today's world of migrating values.

[Clay01]

Don.
My name is Clay. I don't live in Mexico like you do but Ive been coming to and have been involved with GTO. and Mexico in general for 22 years.
I am married to a Mexican local from there and have seen life from perhaps a little different perspective than some gringos there because of my familiar experiences over the years. I have read almost everything you have written as I got hooked on your stuff a while ago. I want to tell you again. I think I might have said it before. You are the most learned, wise, truthful, compassionate lover of Mexico and the Mexican people that I have ever encountered. I also know your a humble humorful and at moments sarcastically truthful guy. You need to be and deserve to be recognized and commended for your wonderful literature and sharing of wisdom. GTO. and the readers of this forum and Im sure most folks that know you are lucky for you. I for one treasure your inputs and outlooks. Please do continue to be the light in the midst of so much expat ignorance and a beacon of hopeful truth for those truly seeking that. in other word dude. Thanks. So, don't be uncomfortable about a bit of praise. You own it buddy.
Someday I hope I figure out who you are (so I can thrash you. kidding) so I can buy you a huge cup of your liking. Peace good soul,, Peace. A humble man and your bro in spirit
Clay.

[DonJuane]

Well thank you! I really don't know what to say except that this may actually be in all my years the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Humbly teared, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart. What a very kind soul you are indeed!

--------------------
I do love Mexico! From the time I was a child on our Texas farm I remember the migrant workers who would come through to help harvest our crops. My father loved the people as I did and I remember them coming to our old beat down Victorian farm house and bringing food and spreading out their guitar amplifiers and pulling out their accordions and all the fun and wonderful music they shared with us. With our living many miles from our closest neighbor, three channels on the B&W TV set and with our only going to a school as a diversion, which incidentally was large enough to only graduate 4 seniors each year, this was really as if a space ship had landed each year when they came to our farm and brought in all the excitement.

The sad part about the entire thing though was that I have to also report that my mother and father would tell me not to share any of these stories at school because the people of the nearby town (population 254) would not understand and would begin to look down upon us. So I think this was likely the first thing that made me a little different from everyone else and with this and the injustice of it all, I was able over most of my life to understand more and more how the unfairness of the human spirit could create so much grief for so many people. The strangest thing is that not much seems to have changed over the years and today maybe it's even worse.

The last five years of my career in the IT field, everyone viewed me as the odd one. I had papered my office in book pages of household items with their Spanish names printed over them. I always dreamed of going to Mexico one day and in 2006 I took early retirement and have been on the road here ever since. Guanajuato used to be my "safe place" to get away from other Gringo infused enclaves, a place I was forced to speak Spanish and things moved a little slower than normal with the lack of traffic and noise and being face to face with local people in the callejones the only option while getting about. The local people of GTO who I met on the streets were interested in stopping to talk to me and it seemed like a world away from the rest of civilization. When I walked around town I might see one or two Gringos here who might ask how I was and how I was enjoying GTO, I would ask the same and we'd be on our way (no meet up for drinks or sharing future development plans). Not so much any more. But change is inevitable, is it not?

[Clay01]

Again a wonderful shared story. We have some similar experiences with the Mexican people and our pasts. My 1st memorable interactions with them were on my Uncles Texas farm near Earth Texas. Again they were wonderful working folks who were so loyal to their families and my uncle They were such salt of the earth type folks. Always ready to share what they had. I also rejected the prejudices in my high school in Amherst Texas as you did. We had all of 17 seniors in my class. I was the only black and Mexican loving hippy in town. I just simply never learned to judge folks that way and still thank the Gods for that. My dad was military and him and mom didn’t teach me those ideas. Someday I hope to pass a lot more time at my home there in GTO. but man it’s changing so quick now. I’m still working and trying to pass my little business of maintenance and repairs on to my son but at nearly 67 it’s getting tougher. I’m so blessed he wants to work with me. However it did change my plans a bit. I was going to retire this year. Some things are bigger than our own hopes though. You be happy most of all bud. Keep on being a light in a darkening world
Have a great Sunday. See ya one day☮️

[roberb7]

I made my first trip to Chedraui this morning. My impression is, just a large version of Aurrera. Good prices, not especially good selection. I went there looking for two specific things; rice cakes, and white wine vinegar. They didn't have either, and La Comer has both. I also noticed that they didn't have Tecate Titanium beer, and even Aurrera has that.
They do have tennis balls (at a not-very-good price), which are hard to find.

[jesm]

I hate to come across as a Negative Nellie but our overall impression of the new Alaia mall is really disappointing. After the two years of construction, disruption and destruction of natural surroundings, we get a nice Liverpool store with easy ground-level access combined with about 40 no name retailers, a food court not worthy of the title and the 300th Chredraui supermarket. Unfortunately, their site plan necessitated that most parking is underground and it resembles a bunker, isolated, poorly lit and with no security visable to us. Reports of vandalism and auto break-ins down there have already been in the local press. Susan’s comment was spot-on, “ it looks like Liverpool got the primo anchor location and parking then all the others jumped in on the leftovers”. Liverpool also opened early, in April, well before the full mall.
I mention the Chedraui store count only to reinforce how universally bad this organization’s management must be. It was only their 5th or 6th day since opening and already the store looked dirty, its selection haphazard and a staff that collectively wanted to be working elsewhere. We had seen this same dismal scene at the Chedraui in Tepic and were hopeful things here might go better. They haven’t.
We should not equate the advanced management at Walmart and its subsidiaries to Chedraui. Regardless of one’s personal experiences and impressions of the Walton Empire, one must acknowledge their mastery of logistics and tight inventory controls with 12,000+ locations and over 2 million employees.
Sr. Chedraui, who personally did the ribbon cutting here for #300, could benefit from a class or two at Walton U.
Aside from the excellent Liverpool experience we likely will continue to shop elsewhere.