[UPDATED] El Pecos supermarket closes...for now

El Pecos On The Go Market Ltd, which opened on Thursday, temporarily closed its doors on Saturday.

According to the El Pecos Facebook Page it was closed to “formulate systems to handle customer flow in consideration of overwhelming demand.”

El Pecos Grill was previously a restaurant, but recently opened its Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook branch as a registered supermarket. The market offered prepackaged food and had a shelf with grocery items such as rice, flour, sauces, bread, cooking oil, beans, toilet paper and laundry detergent.

Suzanne and Richard Camacho, owners of El Pecos, said they had been waiting to see if the government would reopen restaurants, but as it did not, they decided to reopen as a supermarket. A certificate from the Registrar General accrediting the business was dated June 24, 2021.

On Friday afternoon the police visited the location after a long line of people were seen outside the establishment. According to the police, they were on the premises to investigate if there were any breaches of the public health regulations.

On Saturday’s Facebook post, it thanked customers for their overwhelming support but felt the crowd gathered had to potential to become unmanageable.

“We keep the health and safety of our staff and customers at the forefront of everything we do during this serious pandemic, and have since very early on, so we have decided to close our doors while we formulate a system to address the flow of customers at our Ariapita Avenue location. We are, for example, considering a number system that may allow customers to remain in their vehicles.”

In a separate Facebook statement El Pecos said, “We have fully co-operated with the authorities who have now twice visited our premises. The authorities have not closed us down. The Health Authority has requested that we obtain further requirements from them within 14 days. To demonstrate our commitment to continue working with the authorities toward a covid free Trinidad and Tobago, we have chosen to close our market place operations until we understand what further requirements are now needed by the Health Authority. We are confident that all the relevant authorities will act in a manner that is fair and does not discriminate against El Pecos.”

It added that the market stocked grocery and sanitation items, fresh baked breads, and pre-packaged and pre-priced El Pecos On The Go food items. On Saturday, the Prime Minister announced restaurants and food outlets can resume sales but for curbside and takeaway deliveries only on July 19.

On Facebook, Phillip Alexander defended the business, comparing it to others and asking why there was a double standard.

He said, “Regional corporation and public health both approved El Pecos kitchen years ago, the same kitchen making the grab and go meals, and the Attorney General in making a case for Massy stores said once the food making on site the supermarket could sell. So what’s the problem?”

He compared it to several other businesses selling prepared food including Starlite Drugs, Peppercorns, Kam Wah, and Fitt Street Market.

“Compare to Fitt Street supermarket selling supplied meals, why a different rule? Can’t El Pecos change their business model? Fitt Street market was a casino.”

Fitt Street Market: We are not like El Pecos

Manager of Fitt Street Market in Woodbrook, Amanda Chandler, scoffed at the business being compared to El Pecos.

“It’s completely different. We weren’t a restaurant cooking food. We were an event management company doing special effects. From the start of covid we were thinking of different options of what we could do to diversify to still make an income to survive so we came up with the idea of opening a grocery store.”

She said it was initially supposed to be a gourmet store but they realised importing items would be difficult during the pandemic, and that those items were not essential. They created a grocery that had “everything,” including an in-store café and bakery, and opened in November 2020.

Stock included produce, sugar, flour, tinned goods, a frozen section, alcohol, and ready-to-eat foods.

“We are small compared to other supermarkets but we have everything needed to cook or make a basic meal.”

She said before the most recent set of health restrictions they would take certain items from restaurants but that stopped with the Prime Minister’s announcement to do so. Instead, the in-house cook began making some of the items they previously purchased, like roti.

She added that the was cook tested for covid19 weekly, the market keep a record of who the kitchen staff came in contact with, and all the proper guidelines such as sanitisation, mask wearing and physical distancing, were strictly adhered to.

The market also grew fresh produce and seasonings on site to the delight of customers who often requested to pick their own purchases.

“One thing we provide ourselves on is supporting local so we try to incorporate local farmers, we grow our own hydro produce now to help sustain the market. So we’re picking it fresh from here and selling it at the market and using it in our meals.”

This story has been updated with additional details. Below is the original article.

El Pecos On The Go Market Ltd, which opened on Thursday, temporarily closed its doors on Saturday.

According to the El Pecos Facebook Page it was closed to “formulate systems to handle customer flow in consideration of overwhelming demand.”

El Pecos Grill was previously a restaurant, but recently opened its Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook branch as a registered supermarket. The market offered prepackaged food and had a shelf with grocery items such as rice, flour, sauces, bread, cooking oil, beans, toilet paper and laundry detergent.

Suzanne and Richard Camacho, owners of El Pecos, said they had been waiting to see if the government would reopen restaurants, but as it did not, they decided to reopen as a supermarket. A certificate from the Registrar General accrediting the business was dated June 24, 2021.

On Friday afternoon the police visited the location after a long line of people were seen outside the establishment. According to the police, they were on the premises to investigate if there were any breaches of the public health regulations.

On Saturday’s Facebook post, it thanked customers for their overwhelming support but felt the crowd gathered had to potential to become unmanageable.

“We keep the health and safety of our staff and customers at the forefront of everything we do during this serious pandemic, and have since very early on, so we have decided to close our doors while we formulate a system to address the flow of customers at our Ariapita Avenue location. We are, for example, considering a number system that may allow customers to remain in their vehicles.”

It added that the market stocked grocery and sanitation items, fresh baked breads, and pre-packaged and pre-priced El Pecos On The Go food items.