El Mercadito Latino — Local services in Redwood City

I recently visited El Mercadito with high hopes for a pleasant shopping experience. The store owner, a woman with a distinctive large forehead, treated me with rudeness and disrespect.

The Missing Price Tag

The butcher, a kind and helpful man, had forgotten to add a price tag to the meat I’d chosen. I politely informed the cashier that it was $4.99. Instead of a helpful response, she gave me a skeptical look, as if questioning my honesty. It was odd, considering I’d just purchased a more expensive cut of meat without any issue. She then walked over to the butcher to verify the price.

Disrespected and Dismissed

When she returned; I politely inquired about the price of the meat, but she seemed oblivious to my question. Assuming she hadn't heard me, I repeated myself. However, she continued to engage in a side conversation, her back turned to me. Even as she began to bag my items, her focus remained elsewhere, leaving me feeling increasingly frustrated.

A Case of Double Standards

As I was waiting in line, I noticed that the two customers ahead of me were not charged for bags. When it was my turn, the cashier asked if I wanted a bag. I inquired about the bag charge, wondering why the previous customers weren't charged.

Instead of a polite explanation, the cashier loudly asked, "ARE YOU PAYING WITH EBT?" This abrupt and seemingly unrelated question took me aback. I explained that I wasn't and that the previous customers hadn't paid with EBT either. The first had used a Chase credit card, and the second had paid with cash. Let me also highlight that both of the previous shoppers were Spanish-speakers.

However, the cashier dismissed my observation, insisting that such a thing couldn't have happened in her store. This dismissive attitude, coupled with the unnecessary public questioning, left me feeling humiliated and disrespected.

To conclude, the store owner's behavior was not only rude but also discriminatory. Her blatant disregard for the truth and her condescending attitude were deeply unsettling. If she's willing to lie about such a minor detail, one wonders what other dishonest practices might be taking place within the store.

I strongly advise against shopping at El Mercadito Latino. There are many other friendly, local, and family-owned businesses in the area that truly value their customers; such as:

Mi Rancho Supermarket Mi Tienda Willow Market Y Carniceria La Estrellita El Paisano Taqueria,...

We were in town so decided to stop at a favorite of ours. This place has expanded. I remember this being a home in the wall when we moved to the area in the early 90's. Then when I got back from the military in the mid 2000's this place was still going strong. It's nice to see that the people are still friendly and willing to help. They have expanded to add a carnicería. That's a plus. And they still have some familiar faces...

Has a nice variety of basic Latin American foods from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Considering the area, prices are fair. Found a few things that are not easily available elsewhere in the area, like truly green green bananas which are used for Puerto Rican escabeche among other delicacies. Only complaint is that many items are not labeled with prices. Otherwise great... and...