With social distancing and government’s forced closure of all bars, restaurants and nightclubs, many proprietors of local “watering holes” have changed their offerings and now serve as make-shift colmados. There, they sell the basic Dominican staples such as eggs, vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant, potatoes and yucca, name, yautia and other starchy tubers, and the always present green bananas and plantains. As reported in Listin Diario, some like Ronny Mendez, the owner of Ronny Super Fria, now even provide household goods like soaps, detergents and mops.
According to at least two bar owners interviewed by reporters from the Listin Diario newspaper, the colmados have adapted to the Covid-19 times and the 7 to 5am curfew. Years back, they had sold the[KR1] but had switched to become local community hangouts where their income came from alcoholic beverages. Today, the colmados are selling facial masks many times made by people who live in the barrio.
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Listin Diario
8 June 2020