How one elotero’s 40-year journey reflects Mexico City’s economy
A moralizing debate surrounds Mexico's informal economy and street vendors like Don Pedro. But are their businesses actually illegal? The post How one elotero’s 40-year journey reflects Mexico City’s economy appeared first on Mexico News Daily
For about four decades, Don Pedro has been waking up at 3 a.m. daily, Monday through Friday, to begin his journey to work. At 4:30 a.m., he leaves his home in Atlacomulco, in northwestern México State, to make the three-hour drive to Central de Abasto. This facility is crucial for stocking up on ingredients such as mayo, grated cheese, and ground chili peppers, which he needs to operate his traditional elote cart.
After gathering his ingredients, Don Pedro makes another three-hour journey to the corner of Avenida Ámsterdam and Avenida Michoacán in Mexico City’s affluent Condesa neighborhood. This is the same spot where he has been selling for the past 40 years. Don Pedro is a second-generation elotero, following in his father’s footsteps.
His son, José, hopes to continue the family business. The Condesa neighborhood, once a quiet area, now has a constant stream of customers, thanks to its growing popularity. Don Pedro is proud of the business's success, though he avoids giving specific figures. The area has transformed from a quiet corner to a bustling hub with customers waiting in line to buy his prepared corn, esquites, and Dorilokos, a blend of various Doritos flavors, mayo, spicy sauce, and corn kernels.
Despite the growing crowds, Don Pedro still maintains his regular customers and receives visitors from foreign countries. He takes pride in catering to their requests, including the spicy chili. As a food cart on wheels, Don Pedro moves along with a loudspeaker to attract attention to his food. In Mexico City, these carts are common and serve as a significant part of the informal economy, accounting for 62.7% of commercial establishments, which made up roughly 25% of the country's GDP last year.
Over 55% of Mexico's workforce is employed in the informal sector. While some critics accuse vendors like Don Pedro of evading taxes and state regulations, the reality is more complex. According to the Federal Consumer Prosecutor's Office, businesses have the right to choose not to accept bank transfers or card payments.
Written by urgent.news from Mexico News Daily's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
