east valley
Volume 5 Issue 04 Mesa, AZ
August 7, 2022
Mesa taco shop weathers economic challenges BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer
I
IN THE BIZ
n the best of times, Pedro Contreras sells about 1,000 meat tacos a week at Pedrito’s Mexican Food, his small taco shop on the corner of Country Club Drive and Main Street in Mesa. “Whatever meat you are thinking, I’ve got it here,” he brags. “Lingua, cabeza, and pollo, pastor and chorizo are among the most popular. But forget the Mexican staple, tripes, at your culinary peril.” But these are not the best of times. “It’s terrible,” Contreras, 48, said. “People are working full-time but it’s hard to fill up the gas two times a week. It’s expensive. Not only me. Everyone feels the prices.” Like everyone else, Contreras is feeling the inflationary pinch on goods and services. “It’s a family business, so the family is working more,” he said. Gas and grocery prices, as well as other economic demands on his customers’ wallets have driven business down, and he is selling about half that much meat now. “I’ve still got a lot of meats so it’s still a lot of prep,” he said. His meat comes from various local sources, and because it has to be trucked in, his suppliers’ higher gas prices mean that he pays more to get his meat delivered. He has had to raise his prices to keep up with the cost of doing business. “I changed the prices because I need it,” he said. “I need to pay my rent and buy more food. I’ve still got a lot of good cusPublic Notices ............... page 3 © Copyright, 2022 East Valley Tribune
Pedro and Rosa Contreras own Pedrito’s Mexican Food near downtown Mesa. (Mark Moran/Tribune Staff) tomers who come every day. Not like before, though. It’s hard.” Things were just starting to pick up post pandemic when this recent spike in the cost of living came tumbling down. Pedro Contreras came to the United States from Mexico City in 1992. He has worked at various restaurants, washing dishes, mopping floors, working in the prep kitchen, whatever needed to be (USPS 004-616) is published weekly
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done. But he was always watching. Finally, in 2014, after picking up tips of the cooking trade here and there along the way, he opened Pedrito’s in 2014. Contreras is no stranger to hard times. Business has been a series of setbacks, one after another, it would seem. He, like other business owners, was forced to deal with COVID and all the restrictions that came with it. Pedrito’s dining area Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.
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