Expendio Doméstico and Café de Casa: A Charming Haven in Mejorada

Expendio Doméstico y Café de Casa: Un encantador rincón en la Mejorada, Moda y arte sostenible en el Centro de Mérida, Barrio de la Mejorada.

In the heart of Mérida, right in front of Mejorada Park, there’s a lovely little spot that might just steal your heart: a store called Expendio Doméstico.

Artisanal fair trade products

It's hard to begin describing Expendio Doméstico to give the right idea to those who have not yet had the pleasure of visiting. It’s a home and decor store but with a unique twist: all its products are the result of centuries-old crafts and traditions, many of which are at risk of disappearing. In other words, at Expendio Doméstico you won't find any plastic or highly industrialized objects; instead, you’ll discover charming essentials. You will likely come across things you didn’t know you needed: a green hen butter dish, a hen-shaped egg basket, an exquisitely decorated Olinalá wood tea box, a candle holder, or a "Maricona" (manual tortilla press). Each item is crafted either by hand or in factories with artisanal traditions. This means that if you look closely, no two items are exactly alike, even if they seem identical at first glance.

Another exceptional feature is the priority given to materials such as pressed glass, anodized aluminum, or galvanized metal—materials that were common in our grandparents' homes but which have been largely replaced by synthetics since the mid-20th century. You’ll find products made from volcanic stone, wood, natural fibers, and clay, among other materials from different states in México, such as México City, México State, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Campeche, and, of course, Yucatán. While some people can still fondly remember the durable utensils from their grandparents' kitchens, many of us are only familiar with plastic objects that barely survive a few years before becoming unusable and discarded as trash.

Slow Shopping at Expendio Doméstico

Pablo Álvarez and Enrique Gosselin, the owners of Expendio Doméstico, share their motivation behind the project: to appreciate and educate others about the value of artisanal work and its processes, which require time, effort, and the passing down of skills through generations. Their motto at Expendio Doméstico is "slow shopping" because as you enter the store, you need plenty of time to browse and hear the story of the different products they carry. Pablo and Enrique make sure to pay the artisans fairly for their efforts, valuing their work and never haggling or negotiating lower prices to boost their profits. They believe that, more than utensils, these products are “object art:” while they were created for a purpose, each person can employ their creativity to give them a new use.

"For us, it's always been essential to have a relationship with our artisan suppliers that's built on absolute respect and admiration for their work, especially when it comes to supporting their families’ financial stability," Enrique explains. That's why they take the time to visit the artisans, get to know them and understand their craft. This way, they can share the true value of these handmade treasures with everyone who visits Expendio Doméstico.

Café de Casa, a coffee bar in the Mejorada Neighborhood

But all these objects, full of unique beauty, personality, and charm, are not the only reason to enter Expendio Doméstico, as inside there is a cozy coffee bar called "Café de Casa."

This café stems from Pablo and Enrique's drive to create community, making their business truly integrate with its surroundings in Mejorada: to be an open space, a kind of oasis, for all the people around, whether they are students from the School of Architecture or the University of Arts, travelers curious about the store, fellow Centro dwellers, or someone taking a break between bus rides. And if you drive, they even offer free parking with your beverage purchase.

Café de Casa aims to be a lively spot where you can pop in just to grab a coffee (or a tea, frappé, or Italian shaved ice), take a break from the heat or shelter from the rain, send an email, read a book, or chat with friends. A neighborhood café that fosters community-building and serves as a meeting point. The menu is a treat in itself, featuring a house blend from the roastery Manifesto with beans from Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Puebla, delicious baked goods from Nuup, jams from Rosetta (the flagship restaurant of chef Elena Reygadas, named the best in the world in 2023), and a variety of drinks made with Fabbri 1905 Italian syrups.

On your wanderings through Mérida’s Centro, be sure to visit Expendio Doméstico and Café de Casa. You’ll surely want to come back.

Expendio Doméstico / Café de Casa
Calle 57 #445 entre 50 y 52, Parque de la Mejorada, Centro
(free parking next to the store).
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6DtYAjgH8VpVm9q49 
Tel.  999 233 2647
hola@expendiodomestico.mx
www.expendiodomestico.mx/ 
IG: Expendio Domestico

Photography by Alicia Navarrete y Yucatán Today for its use in Yucatán Today.

First published in Yucatán Today print and digital magazine no. 441, in September 2024.