Sari Sari Store

I just asked mrs bowden for a translation of sari sari and it means something like mix and match or variety of goods and that will do because in the Philippines sari sari stores are everywhere.

They fill the gap in the retail market and i give my interpretation only of the pecking order.

Supermarkets and wet markets........... For bulk shopping but usually you need to take transport to get there.

Convenience stores and local fruit veg, meat and fish stalls. More expensive than above but can be more convenient than going to town to visit the wet market or getting jeepney to go to supermarket.

Sari sari store. They are at the street level, often it seems like every street has one, we now have one in our street, construction just finished, see photo.

They buy in bulk and split items to sell individually, like cigarettes, like hair stuff, shampoo or conditioner, or coffee sachet or beer, or load for phones, food, beer, spirits, all sorts of things, but not usually fresh things.

If you run out of things or like to top up with beer or spirits on a sunday and are too lazy to get in the car then this is what sari sari stores are for, of course also if you can't afford a pack of cigs, may be one at a time is affordable, the fact that it ends up twice the price, never mind, the sari sari needs to make profit.

Its small local business and they can be found all over the Philippines.

The first image is the store i use (for beer) and the second is the one just opened on our street a few doors away, the other pictures are of local and larger sari sari stores ....not my type of business.