Roberto
Guest
Along with Mannys, and Margarita Villa, Reggies 8/12 has historically been a long time popular place for US visitors. Snacks, beer, burritos and donuts. If you were hanging out at Margarita Villa, you probably knew Reggie. A new Mexico boy, as was Rick the manager of Margarita Villa, he knew how to run an American Style convenience store. Always stocked with the right stuff American's expected. Cold beer by the case with refundable bottles !! I think 8/12 was the first 'convenience store' in Penasco.
When Reggies cousin, up in Lordsburg, went belly up with a Dunkin Donuts franchise, Reggie high tailed it up there and hauled off the equipment much to the dismay of Dunkin Donuts Corp. who wanted it back ! Drunken Donuts were now available at Reggies. They prepared burritos in the kitchen, big fat ones, Amercan style. Not the little ones favored by Mexicans. Weekends, you expected to stand in line, as people exchanged empty cases for full and grabbed burritos by the armload for breakfast and lunch.
Over the years Circle K and Oxxo have expanded around Penasco but Reggies has soldiered on. Sold off by Reggie to Larry Large, before Reggie and Rick moved to Asia, two new locations were planned and one actually opened on Calle 13. Ownership was then transferred to someone else, the new locations closed and Reggies original location faltered badly. No inventory on the shelves and all the same stuff as the little tiendas. Over the past couple of years they have brought it back significantly, still with the best American style burritos, and Drunken Donuts. Dispite all that sales have been marginal.
Recently (3 weeks ago) some construction started on Sinaloa across from Capones. wham, Bam, it was like the Wal Mart going up FAST. At first I thought it was a garage for the large adjoing house, then as it developed it looked like an Oxxo. Well the parking lot is done, glass in the windows, the Oxxo sign is up, the shelves are installed and it will probably be open very shortly. Oxxo is owned by Famsa, a Mexican Corporation that posted at 30% increase in one quarter some time ago.
Take a stroll down memory lane while you can. Stop by Reggies, grab a burrito (might be your last chance Kenny), maybe a case of beer with refundable bottles, get some Drunken Donuts and coffee. I can't imagine it will withstand the impact of an Oxxo two blocks away. There just ain't that much business to go around.
When Reggies cousin, up in Lordsburg, went belly up with a Dunkin Donuts franchise, Reggie high tailed it up there and hauled off the equipment much to the dismay of Dunkin Donuts Corp. who wanted it back ! Drunken Donuts were now available at Reggies. They prepared burritos in the kitchen, big fat ones, Amercan style. Not the little ones favored by Mexicans. Weekends, you expected to stand in line, as people exchanged empty cases for full and grabbed burritos by the armload for breakfast and lunch.
Over the years Circle K and Oxxo have expanded around Penasco but Reggies has soldiered on. Sold off by Reggie to Larry Large, before Reggie and Rick moved to Asia, two new locations were planned and one actually opened on Calle 13. Ownership was then transferred to someone else, the new locations closed and Reggies original location faltered badly. No inventory on the shelves and all the same stuff as the little tiendas. Over the past couple of years they have brought it back significantly, still with the best American style burritos, and Drunken Donuts. Dispite all that sales have been marginal.
Recently (3 weeks ago) some construction started on Sinaloa across from Capones. wham, Bam, it was like the Wal Mart going up FAST. At first I thought it was a garage for the large adjoing house, then as it developed it looked like an Oxxo. Well the parking lot is done, glass in the windows, the Oxxo sign is up, the shelves are installed and it will probably be open very shortly. Oxxo is owned by Famsa, a Mexican Corporation that posted at 30% increase in one quarter some time ago.
Take a stroll down memory lane while you can. Stop by Reggies, grab a burrito (might be your last chance Kenny), maybe a case of beer with refundable bottles, get some Drunken Donuts and coffee. I can't imagine it will withstand the impact of an Oxxo two blocks away. There just ain't that much business to go around.
