La Alegria Mexican Store End Restaurante — Restaurant in Batesville

I've been frequenting this wonderful Mexican store for many years now. Over the course of this time I've spent a lot of money here, but more importantly I've had some really amazing, educational, and just positive experiences and memories here. It's really sad to witness a place go downhill so fast. I came in a while back, probably 3-4 weeks ago and there were all new staff. They explained to me that there was a new owner. We had this conversation in Spanish. The new staff there that day were very polite to me, and (most importantly, they spoke to me in Spanish when I addressed them in Spanish). Since this initial visit after their change of ownership I've been three times, with each experience worse than the last. Today was my final visit here. I came in after a long hard day of work. I needed some chilis and some cilantro. I come here to buy these things because typically the products are higher quality that Kroger or Walmart. When I got to the front I addressed the young lady behind the register in Spanish, using the formal form of you no less. She didn't look at me, as she was on her phone. She just mumbled "great". She started bagging my items into a plastic bag, I told her politely in Spanish, a bag isn't necessary. She looked at me as though I was insane, she asked in English with attitude "You don't want a bag?". At this point I was frustrated not only with her lack of engagement with me as a customer and in my use of Spanish, but also with her overall negative and unfriendly attitude. I don't understand why someone acts so rude??? I'm your customer, c'mon. Finally, I asked her why she wouldn't speak to me in Spanish. She looked at me as though she could kill me, and says "Do you speak any Spanish?" At this point I came to the conclusion she was either deaf or just extremely rude!!!! Humbly, I say "Alguno" (some in English). She guffaws and aks "Do you speak Spanish well", and then abruptly turns back to her phone. I had paid at this point, I took my things outside, but I brought them back in because I was so disgusted at this interaction. I've had so many conversations in Spanish with staff members here over the years, this is why this interaction shocked me. If somehow the new owners read this, please tell your staff to humor us gringos who come inside your store and want to speak some Spanish. I'll start looking for a new tienda, I suggest anyone who reads this to...

My MIL is Guatemalan, and we pop in her for a multitude of stuff; from ingredients to the occasional lunch.

This day we popped in for lunch, and we both got some pork street tacos. Now, they're not your taco bell tacos, so if this is what you want, go there, not here.

It helps if you aren't afraid to try more authentic foods, and places, in general, and it does help if you speak enough Spanish to at least get your wants met. I luck out cos of my MIL, and being in the family for 20yrs.

Still, don't let that put you off, the workers speak English and the menu/products are in English as well, and if they aren't, they're self-explanatory really.

Adventurous eaters, and just want something more "real...Go!!!

Ya never know, you might stumble onto something you take a...

Don't care enough about business or customers to send a menu they requested through messenger seen the message and ignored it n still ignored my response to that. Sad was new here n was hopimg to find good food but like to see menus b4 I go not to waste time if I don't like it. Well another place sent me a pic n got out business we spent near 100 dollars n im ordering tons of tacos n food for a party n they lost out in alot of money n potential new customers..bad...