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Juan Molina isn’t calling his super convenience store, 700 N. Alamo St., a grocery store. Personally, I don’t care what he calls it as long as he sticks to the plan.

Molinas opened two weeks ago. Inside, there is a butcher’s display case nearly the width of the store. They’re planning to fill the case up with beef, pork and poultry by next week. There is a brand new meat slicer and other heavy-duty machinery. There are counter top griddles, and areas for a salad bar and a kitchen in the back for breakfast tacos.

The shelves are not fully stocked, but they do hold seasoning, boxes of Trix ($3.69), cooking oil, 12.5-ounce bottles of Valentina hot sauce (99 cents), 10-ounce bottles of Kikkoman soy sauce ($2.29), Parade granulated sugar (2-pound bag for $1.69), flour, condiments, milk, cheese, beer, Meow for More cat food ($2.69), Maruchan ramen (59 cents a box), fideo (45 cents a box), cylinder of sour cream-flavored Pringles ($2.09), Dora the Explorer fruit snacks (10 pouches per box; made with “real fruit juice;” $2.99), Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese ($2.69), Sabritones puffed wheat snacks ($1.49) and Reynolds Wrap (30 foot; $1.95). (The meats and produce weren’t priced.)

Hours of operation are 5 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. The pumps stay on 24 hours.

The Molinas hail from Laredo. In the border town, they’ve operated another super convenience store for 19 years and La Flecha Materials, a sand and gravel distributor, for 13 years. A good chunk of the family has moved down here to open the store, including brother-in-law Jerry Garza, the store’s official butcher.

In the display counter, there was fajitas, stew meat, pork steaks, country-style ribs and ground beef. Garza hopes to have the display case filled by next Friday.

Molina hopes to tap into the new residents moving in around the Pearl, the near East Side and downtown proper. He’s aware that grocery stores have had a tough time surviving in downtown San Antonio, which is why his store offers more than just fresh meat. They’ll offer take-out meals, basic grocery items, basic convenience store items and gas.

“If I were to be just a meat market, I wouldn’t have the clientele as much,” Molina said. “With a combination, it should work out pretty good.”

A soft opening is slated for March 8, in which time he hopes to have the butcher’s shop and kitchen fully operational.

Photo by John Gonzalez / Express-News

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