Gadget Central: Cristelaria Guadalajara Store, La Penita
Gadget Central: Cristelaria Guadalajara Store, La Penita
Tara A. Spears
Some things just don’t fit into a suitcase- beach chair or beach umbrella, hard sided cooler to keep your beer cold as you chill on the beautiful Pacific beach or margarita glasses and plastic chairs for your balcony to watch the magnificent sunsets. It’s no problem because on the La Penita main Avenida is an authentic Mexican kitchen gadget store that also carries those necessary items to make your vacation comfortable. Cristelaria Guadalajara is open every day, 9 am til 8:30 pm. Call ahead 327 100 3934 if you want to check on product availability but it’s so much fun to wander the packed isles to see all the choices!
In a region that is hospitality driven economics, astute businesswoman, Fabiola Ascencio Jimenez, has provided the needed tools for restaurants, street vendors and the home cook for 22 years. Her glassware, dishes and kitchen supply store, Cristelaria Guadalajara, is better than a superstore because the merchandise is tailored to the needs of the professional, housewife, and tourists. Starting small but drawing on her previous work experience and her university degree in Tourism plus a lot of hard work, Faby was able to grow her store to become the largest kitchen supplier north of Mezcales.
This savvy entrepreneur quickly realized that in addition to the hospitality market there is a niche market for visitor supplies- she listens to her customers and stocks amenities for the traveler. Many foreign visitors dream of enjoying margaritas at sunsets but need ice cubes/ blender/glasses to enjoy. Look no farther: Cristelaria Guadalajara has it all, from ice trays to small appliances to glassware! When visitors decide to return they need plastic tubs to store their personal items- Faby has a HUGE selection of plastic containers and tubs with lids. As well as the beach accoutrements CG carries a variety of lock boxes that are perfect for securing valuables or cash in rentals.
Faby explained, “My parents had this type of business all their lives and since I was little I learned about commerce. When I was a teenager they put me to work in the store and I learned. When I got married and moved to La Penita I realized that there was no business of this type but a great need.” As with most retailers, Faby’s biggest challenge is riding through the economic recessions; it is also a source of pride to her to have succeeded during the world pandemic. “My biggest satisfaction is when clients come and tell me what this is a favorite store, that they like it a lot and I see them return.” I have been a satisfied customer since 2007 when I retired to Jaltemba Bay.
Every room of my house has something from Cristelaria Guadalajara: lamps, everything in my kitchen plates, pots/pans, utensils, (I adore gadgets!) plastic organizers inside and out because of the humid climate, floor mats, towels, chairs. CG even has sheets, yoga mats and flower pots! If you want another size or color, Faby will order for you. “What’s unique about CG is that we provide the best products and quality. In addition, we offer optional home delivery and custom orders.”
Good news for the traveler, this store offers several payment options: cash, credit card payment, debit transfer, and billing for commercial customers. One of the reasons Cristelaria Guadalajara is successful is that Faby “tries to adapt stock to meet the needs of the people.”
She has varied her merchandise to meet the changing needs as Jaltemba Bay has grown from a sleepy village into a bustling international hub. The biggest downside to all the growth, Faby observed, is that more cleaning campaigns are necessary-recycling/ trash pick up as well as expanded water/sewer service. Her concern is that the national “people are losing sight of the customs and traditions that we have.” Advice to the visitors is to remember that “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
From picture frames to storage to baking supplies, Cristelaria Guadalajara has what you need to be comfortable in Jaltemba Bay. I dare you to visit the quaint, crowded mercantile and not find something you need! Faby, her husband, son and staff are happy to assist you.
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