La Pelota Cafeteria Wants to Play Its Own Championship.
As if responding to the baseball fever in the city, the staff of La Pelota Cafeteria wants to emulate the Matanzas Crocodiles and earn the admiration of the people of Matanzas on the field they’ve been assigned: contributing to feeding the community.
Located in one of the most central spots in the city of Matanzas, right on the corner of Liberty Park, La Pelota cafeteria has also become one of the most popular places, where hundreds of Matanzas residents come every day to buy a snack to help them face the daily struggles of life with more energy.
Undoubtedly, one of the population’s long-standing demands has found a receptive ear here, as this establishment fulfills the old and necessary role of such places: to be a kind of financial alternative, a place where people with lower incomes can go. La Pelota cafeteria receives hundreds of customers every day, perhaps being the most frequented by individuals considered vulnerable, but in recent times, given the stability of the services offered there, people from all walks of life come.
Many choose to prioritize getting their essential food at this place. So, sales begin early thanks to the bread selection, a supply that enjoys the protection of the highest provincial authorities. Affordability is essential when it comes to budgeting, especially in times of inflation, and this calculation has benefited the center and its potential customers, because it maintains a stable presence with reasonable prices compared to neighboring businesses.
Carlos Cruz, director of the Basic Business Unit to which this establishment belongs, assures that they receive 800 loaves of bread several times a week from the Provincial Food Company, which allows them to maintain affordable prices.
Even when bread isn’t being produced in state-run bakeries, they acquire it through other economic actors, but they try to keep prices low, given the socio-economic characteristics of their clientele. The menu displays a wide variety of breads with croquettes, mortadella, pasta, many of the ingredients prepared by the kitchen staff themselves.
Yaniris Morales, the center’s administrator, recognizes the sense of belonging of the group she leads, who are not intimidated by the continuous blackouts that undoubtedly affect the production of many products.
But Yaniris’s subordinates are looking for alternatives. In a corner of the preparation center, a small charcoal stove remains where they fry croquettes and cook the picadillo. They prepare the pasta in a blender, which is very popular.
They also make broth and infusions using this rustic cooking equipment.
Among the establishment’s strengths is the full functionality of electronic payment.
For management, this is a strength because it reduces the amount of cash handled, and it also provides support for retirees who often face difficulties withdrawing money from their cards. A record they display shows the dozens of transactions they process each day. This might seem surprising these days, when so many businesses refuse to accept electronic payments, violating established regulations.
As if responding to the baseball atmosphere in the city, the staff of the La Pelota cafeteria want to emulate the Matanzas Crocodiles and earn the admiration of the people of Matanzas on the field they have to play on: contributing to feeding the people.
Written by Arnaldo Mirabal.
