El Mercado del Pueblo has your Cinco party needs

If you’re planning your own Cinco de Mayo celebration today, consider gathering fiesta fixings at the new El Mercado del Pueblo.

Gilda and Fred Meyer opened the Mexican grocery at 1814 N. Division St. at the beginning of the year.

The small store near the corner of North Division and East Nora specializes in imported groceries and bulk spices. Choose from more than 15 different dried chilies alone.

It also offers spices blended and bagged under the store’s name by Michlitch, the Spokane Spice Co.

Tamales, salsas and Mexican baked goods are all made daily. A lettuce salsa with jalapenos, salsa chipotle, pico de gallo and Mama Torres’ salsa (that’s Gilda’s mom’s recipe) is among the offerings that can be purchased for $3.99 per pound.

The bakery case is filled with cookies, pastries and breads each day. Bakers make tortas, for Mexican sandwiches, which are sold in bulk to Taco Tumbras and Soulful Soups and Spirits for their popular sliders.

Decorated cakes for celebrations, birthdays and weddings – including tres leches, the traditional sponge cake soaked in “three milks” – are available. There’s also an array of piñatas and bulk candies.

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo the store is offering a 5 percent discount today on purchases up to $19. There is a 10 percent discount for purchases up to $49 and 15 percent discount for purchases above that.

The Meyers say they always dreamed of opening a Mexican restaurant. They plan to continue expanding deli offerings and add some seating for in-store dining.

Fred Meyer retired after working for 30 years in regional sales for Orowheat and Bimbo bakeries. Gilda is a third-generation Mexican American.

El Mercado del Pueblo is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The deli closes a half hour earlier each day.

Look for the colorful mural on the side of the store, painted by Spokane Community College student Shelby Baltutat.