have i mentioned the tortillas?

so there’s this place. when we first moved here, it was a coffee shop. that went out of business. then, it became “the cookie guy” and he painted the building lime green and advertised “we deliver!” and he went out of business. the funny thing was, that even when the shops were supposedly open for business, they didn’t really ever look open. there were no little tables to sit at. no one was ever sitting at the cash register waiting for customers. there was often a bike parked inside, leaning against the front of the counter. mr. happy stuff and i surmised that all of these random businesses must all be fronts for elaborate drug traffic operations because how else would they even stay in business long enough to paint the sign?

the most recent incarnation of the place includes a printed vinyl sign (hung over the “cookie guy” awnings) that reads, “tortilleria del norte.” this sign was up for about 3 months (maybe longer) with no sign of the place being inhabited at all and i was about to give up on the exciting prospect of a real live tortilleria almost within walking distance of my house when we drove by one day and the neon “open” sign was lit up! “mr. happy stuff! it’s not a drug front anymore!” i said happily to my husband as we drove by. a few days later, i stopped by to sample the wares. ok, the place still isn’t hugely inviting. despite the bright exterior, the inside is pretty stark white. they put up a garland of plastic mexican flags and a few mini mexican blanket wall hangings, but other than that and the neon sign in the window, there’s nothing else. the first day, i walked in and asked what they had. (there was no menu.) “we have white corn tortillas, three dozen for one dollar.” i was pretty sure i hadn’t heard the last part right, but i thought we could get to that later.
“so, you don’t have any flour tortillas?”
“no, only corn.”
“ok, i’ll try those.”
so, she dutifully wrapped up about 3 dozen tortillas (i think they actually parcel them out by weight) in paper and included a plastic bag with the verbal instructions that i should put them into the plastic when they cooled. (my mind started singing when i realized that these babies were fresh!) and she rang me up. “one dollar.” i handed her a dollar, still expecting her to say, “no, five dollars, silly american girl.” but, she took my dollar and said, “have a nice day!” and i walked out, stunned at my luck. maybe the place is a drug front. otherwise, how the heck can they pull a profit with prices like that?

today, i went back for more. they now have a dry erase board on the wall that explains their price schedule:
3 dozen (one packet) $1.00
1 case (16 packets) $13.00

good lord. that’s five hundred and seventy six tortillas for under $15.00. and i haven’t even mentioned that they are delicious. especially the first six that i cram into my mouth when i get home before they cool down. i worry about their business. i don’t want to lose them. i don’t think they’re charging enough. in the mean time, i’ll support their business the best way i know how. must go get another tortilla.