Rob, what is the best method to ask that OXXO La Ropa tone down their facade? After all, they are sure to receive good business whether they flash their signage or make it a bit more low key. I will stop in more often when it's not flashing so much...

The residents need to get together and have a serious discussion with Reglamentos. Talk with Oscar, Leti, Guillermo, Francisco and/or Paty. The Asociación de Colonos de La Ropa should've been all over this from the git go. OXXO will be open 24 hours a day selling booze, styrofoam and plastic-wrapped crap, much of which will end up in the huerta, the estero and the beach. It will be a magnet for criminals and ne'er-do-wells. There WILL be holdups and halcones. So the least they could do is like they were made to do in their store across from the zócalo and tone down their visual violation their surroundings, in this case of our poor abused huerta, surely soon to be filled with condo commandos and goggle-eyed beachgoers clueless to and with little appreciation for where they really are. Might as well be in Disneyland.

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"Florida can never really come to grips with saving the environment because a very large percentage of the population at any given time just got there. So why should they fight to turn the clock back? It looks great to them the way it is. Two years later, as they are beginning to feel uneasy, a few thousand more people are just discovering it all for the first time and wouldn't change a thing. And meanwhile the people who knew what it was like twenty years ago are an ever-dwindling minority, a voice too faint to be heard."
John D. MacDonald, "The Empty Copper Sea" (1978)

I was disappointed to see that an Oxxo had made its way to La Ropa earlier this week. At the very least I had hoped they would tone down their traditional storefront in an effort to blend in more with the neighborhood. I passed by this morning and noticed that they have a 50 to 60 foot pole sitting in the parking lot that will obviously be used to put up a huge sign. I encourage everyone to let their opinion be known about this. I can’t imagine living in one of those condos on the hill looking out at an illuminated Oxxo sign. This could be the start of something really bad for the soul and unique character of the area. Does anyone have ideas on how we can come together to address this? I’m not suggesting we’re going to be able to evict Oxxo from the building but I do believe with pressure we can encourage them to get rid of the sign.

Another sign on the opposite side of the road would be nice as well. Then traffic both ways can see it.

D

A damn shame. Liked it better when there were only a couple of family-owned and operated tienditas where we could run a cuenta and pay once every one or two weeks. They’d even make special purchases if you asked them. Things like extra tortillas or tomatoes or anything available at the market. Good times.