Big U.S Chains Rule

Imagine yourself showing up for work only to find out that your employer is no longer open for business. You are suddenly out of a job, and your company had not given any sort of notification of what was to happen. This was the predicament which employees at the local Puerto Rican pharmacy chain, El Amal, found themselves in this past weekend. To top it all of, many of these employees are owed three weeks pay. Although El Amal had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009, and things have not been looking all that rosy since then, it still came as a shock for its employees and many around the island.

For many, including yours truly, it was actually surprising to see El Amal hang on for as long as it did. Anyone who has visited Puerto Rico probably noticed the strong presence of Walgreens, the largest American drugstore chain. In my neighborhood alone, within a five mile radius, there are three Walgreens stores. Lo and behold, CVS Pharmacy also opened up several stores on the island last year. American retail chain stores dominate the local Puerto Rican marketplace, and this doesn't just apply to drugstore chains. As we were passing by Dorado on the highway the other day, I couldn't help but notice the inextricably long line of cars at the drive-thru at Krispy Kreme. I still remember last year when the first Krispy Kreme opened in Guaynabo, where dozens of people spent the night outside in hopes of being the first ones to step inside the doughnut mecca. Krispy Kreme has since opened up two other stores, one in Caguas and the other one in Dorado.

Most American fast food and retail chains do very well in Puerto Rico. In fact, KFC and Wendy's are both expanding their franchises on the island. This is not only bad news for the ever-growing obesity problem but it is also a mixed blessing for the local economy. As we've seen with El Amal, many Puerto Rican businesses have become affected as they lack the massive capital and economies of scale to compete with these huge American corporations. On the other hand, these companies do create jobs and pay taxes. Aside from Capri and Pitusa (both are discount retail stores) there aren't many local retail chains. The same goes for fast food, except for my beloved El Meson Sandwiches. While the statehood issue has always been a subject of ongoing debate on the island, the majority are ebullient when it comes to the arrival of yet another Gringo-owned retail store or fast food chain.

Living Simply

It is no secret that the U.S' economy is driven by consumer consumption, Americans love to buy. This culture of consumer frenziness also applies to Puerto Rico. Just as in many other parts of the world, a luxury car is the ultimate status symbol here. When a new product arrives in the island, like the iPad or iPhone, you'll also see lines out the door at most Best Buy stores. Just like the mainland U.S, some Puerto Ricans will spend the night outside department stores in hopes of getting hold of some great bargains on Black Friday. I read a very interesting article recently published in The New York Times titled, "But Will it Make You Happy?" It talks about the growing trend amongst Americans to downsize and cut back on spending, as the economy continues to stagnate. People are now buying less and saving more. According to the article, spending is going more towards things which would maximize their "emotional efficiency."

Material things can only bring us so much satisfaction, as the novelty of it wears off soon thereafter. I've never been one to spend a fortune on clothes, shoes or makeup. I'd much rather spend my money on traveling. Most consumers on the island, like their counterparts on the mainland, have also been more conscientious of their spending. While the personal savings rate in the U.S is estimated to be between 1%-3%, I suspect it's even lower here. Unfortunately, many people on the island live on credit cards and loans. The average household credit card debt in the U.S is an astounding $8,000. Most families on the island are in similar financial straits, if not worse. Adopting a more simplistic and minimalistic way of life is the way to go. I recommend reading "Becoming a Minimalist," an excellent blog focusing on living more with less. This is an old adage which seems to resonate with many people these days. One of the lessons from this difficult economic downturn is that it forces many of us to re-examine our lifestyles, and re-prioritize on the things which truly matter in life.

Shopping on Sundays

After much brouhaha in the Puerto Rican Senate and House of Representatives, la Ley de Cierre (lit. "the closing law") has officially been abolished by the legislative assembly. This means shops can now remain open on Sundays from 11AM until midnight. Previously, nearly all commercial establishments were required by law to close at 5PM, except for those located in tourist areas. Critics of the now defunct Ley de Cierre have long called for its demise, as tough economic times calls for even tougher economic measures. Longer shopping hours means having the opportunity to do more business, especially during the holiday season. On the other hand, workers' unions, which are extremely powerful in Puerto Rico, were strongly against extending the Sunday workday because it would result in workers having less time to spend with their families.

One of the major obstacles in this debate was over wages. Unions demanded double pay, while the retail and consumer industry groups called for time and a half. The latter prevailed. This past Sunday, we took advantage of the new shopping hours for the first time. I found it wonderful not having to rush around. Plaza Las Américas, the island's largest shopping mall, now closes at 7PM. Some supermarkets close at 9PM, it all depends on the retailer. So, did I end up doing more shopping this past Sunday? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding "yes!" It felt strange being able to shop past 5 PM, but it's something which I will certainly get used to.

Eating Local & Organic Food

With all the talk about the healthcare system, and the urgent need to reform it, the New York Times published a very interesting Op-Ed article, "Big Food vs. Big Insurance." Several weeks ago, Time Magazine also talked about the "The Real Cost of Cheap Food." During tough economic times, cheap food seems to be a more attractive choice for most people, despite the unhealthy consequences. Healthcare reform is important, but so are the choices we make as consumers when we head to the supermarket. Americans are seeing their waistlines gradually expand, which increases the likelihood of a growing number of diabetics, and other health problems. The fact in which a bag of potato chips is a lot cheaper than a pound of apples, doesn't help motivate people to eat healthier though. Let's not even go into the price of conventional vs. organic foods, especially here on the island.

In Puerto Rico, the healthcare system (which I will talk about in another blog entry) is also in tatters, and the obesity rate is higher than that on the mainland U.S. Eating healthy is often pushed to the backburner, especially since vegetables and fruits are so expensive on the island, which imports over 80% of its food, the majority coming from the U.S. In the supermarkets, I've seen more "del país" stickers (meaning it's from the island) on meat than on fruit and vegetables. Personally, I find Costco to be the best and most economical place to buy organic products here in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, Whole Foods doesn't exist here yet (and I don't know if it ever will). However, in San Juan, Fresh Mart is the closest alternative. There are perhaps a handful of smaller health food stores.

The best place to buy locally grown food in Puerto Rico would be your local plaza del mercado, like the one in Rio Piedras. Being that it's a tropical island, many would assume Puerto Rico produces most of the fruit and vegetables it consumes. Sadly, that's just not the case. I'm looking through a couple of flyers from some of the local supermarkets here and I see iceberg lettuce (from California), cassava (from Costa Rica), grapes (also from California) and watermelon (from either the U.S or Puerto Rico, finally!). Out of all the produce which we eat at home, I'd say bananas and papayas are the only fruit which are locally grown. Although I've bought lettuce "del país," I have to admit it didn't look too appetizing and it didn't taste great either. Needless to say, I haven't repeated my purchase but I haven't seen it in the supermarkets again either.

Observing from... the Island of Manhattan!

I arrived in New York a few days ago and it feels so great to be back! Although I was born in Puerto Rico, I consider myself to be a New Yorker at heart. I spent most of my life in this wonderful city and there's no other place on earth like it. Well, London comes quite close to it. Anyhow, it has been a long time since my last visit and it has been really nice catching up with friends. In some ways, it does feel a bit strange to be back. I began to notice things about the city which I never quite appreciated in the past, when I lived here.

The wide array of cuisines available here is one of the things which I truly miss. Last night, I went to one of my favorite Japanese restaurants, a soba house, in the city. Unfortunately, I don't believe there are any authentic Japanese restaurants in Puerto Rico. Most of the "Japanese" restaurants are owned by Chinese people. Needless to say, they are not authentic and you'll also end up paying an arm and a leg for it. In Puerto Rico, I tend to stick with comida criolla and eat arroz y habichuelas. I've also ended up dining at places like Pizzeria Uno and Maccaroni Grill, places which I rarely went to as a Manhattanite.

Grocery shopping in the city is also something which I miss dearly as well. I was at a Whole Foods last night and a wave of nostalgia swept over me. The bountiful array of organic products and beautiful display of produce was overwhelming. We do not have a Whole Foods in Puerto Rico. However, if we did, I'm convinced more boricuas would eat fruits and vegetables. Believe it or not, meat is cheaper than vegetables on the Island of Enchantment. This, in my opinion, is one of the reasons why obesity is such a huge problem in Puerto Rico. The average price of Gala apples in Puerto Rico is quite close to the price which Whole Foods charges, $1.99 (per lb.). However, the apples at Whole Foods taste better, look better and they're organic!

Back in PR, Costco is my Whole Foods. That's where you can find the freshest produce at the most decent prices, compared to most of the supermarkets you'll find on the island. It's funny how I've become such a huge Costco fan since moving to Puerto Rico. Purchasing in bulk, like anyone in Manhattan can tell you, is not common given the small apartments. The majority of Manhattanites don't have cars either. All said and done, I've adjusted and learned to live with fewer options and choices. There are many aspects of my former New York City life which I miss, but I certainly do not miss the exorbitant prices of Manhattan!

(Please note: Costco is not a paid advertiser of this blog).

After Scary Friday

Instead of "Black Friday," I've decided to call the day after Thanksgiving "Scary Friday." The death of a Wal Mart employee , as a result of being trampled by a mob of savages, has really made me question the decency of mankind. What has this world come to? Here in Puerto Rico, Scary Friday wasn't as scary but there were still people who stood outside shopping malls and Wal Marts before the crack of dawn. In general, Puerto Ricans like to shop. The local culture is heavily influenced by that of the mainland, where materialism and the hunger for consumption seems to be out of control. Hence, the credit card debt of an average American seems to be going nowhere but up. This is also true for the average Puerto Rican.

I am not crazy about shopping and I have never understood why people would want to spend the night outside a Wal Mart. On Scary Friday, I stayed far away from the mall. Thinking it would be safe today, we decided to go to the Prime Outlets mall in Barceloneta, about 45 minutes west of San Juan, this afternoon. There was a bit of a crowd but no huge mobs. Most retailers are indeed offering huge discounts and I saw quite a few stores with lines of customers waiting to pay. The economy is in recession but Puerto Ricans are definitely spending. By the way, the sales tax here is 7% and prices really aren't as cheap as you would expect.

Less than Enchanting Customer Service

One of the things I find most frustrating about living in Puerto Rico is the terrible customer service I often get. Generally speaking, whether it be at restaurants, shops, insurance companies, etc., it just seems to pervade every corner of the service industry. As for contacting government agencies, where you'll be lucky if anyone ever picks up the phone, I shall touch upon on a future blog entry.

Obviously, I do realize the fact that this is not New York City and people work at a different pace. However, what annoys me is the inefficiency and lack of training that people get. The local culture doesn't place much emphasis on giving its customers the best service possible. I've lost count how many times we've gone to restaurants where the waiter just seemed to have disappeared or paid no attention to us at all. What happens is I usually don't end up ordering the dessert I usually crave so much.

It's a shame how people don't realize the importance of providing good customer service. Perhaps, they just don't want repeat customers. Recently, we had a plumber come to our house to give us an assessment of some work that needed to be done. He had promised to contact me with a quote shortly. Unfortunately, more than a week has passed, and we still haven't heard from him. "El cliente es primero" literally means "the client comes first." I'm afraid this is a principle that does not apply to the "Island of Enchantment."

(Photo credit: www.ideasparapymes.com)