Panic buying, rescued by a small shop

From the end of February to the beginning of March, there was a panic buying spree in Hong Kong, and supermarket shelves were empty. In the past, bread and cakes were always full for many years, and I always felt that Hong Kong people would rather patronize bakeries because they were not fresh enough. Anyway, there are at least six bakeries in Saigon, five of which are neighborhood stores and one is a chain store. However, since the end of February, people in Hong Kong have panicked because of the fear of the lockdown. When they went to a supermarket just after noon, the meat refrigerators, vegetable and fruit shelves looked clear, and the bread and cake shelves were empty.

My home is not far from Saigon, and I go there from time to time in my leisure time, so I am qualified to be called a neighborhood. I went to Saigon for lunch on a Friday this month. I saw no crowds outside the supermarket on the bus. I thought Saigon could get rid of the restlessness in the city. Unexpectedly, I went to the supermarket opposite the bus terminal after dinner, and the sight was unbelievable.

I couldn't help asking the clerk what was going on. They said helplessly that they came several times a day, but every time they came, they were swept away.

Fortunately, there are several bakeries in Saigon, most of which are neighborhood-style, selling Hong Kong-style bread and cakes. I went to Mushroom Bakery & Cafe, opened the door and was immediately relieved - there was bread!

The clerk seemed to be frightened by the surging customers. "Yes, other stores don't have bread, so we need to make more." She said that many people couldn't buy bread, so the store worked overtime and made more to meet the needs of customers.

"Mushroom" has been open for many years. It is located on the common road that must pass through Choi Hung and Tseung Kwan O. The front shop is retail, and the rear is a house. If there is a demand, it can start to rush production. Unlike chain stores, it has to wait for the construction of the central house and transportation. takes time. This is the beauty of a traditional neighborhood shop. The year before last, a Colombian bicycle traveler around the world was trapped in Hong Kong due to the epidemic and lived in the Sai Kung area. "Mushrooms" donated bread from time to time.

"Mushroom" sells freshly made ham every day. It is so delicious that even famous foodies in the city praise it on YouTube. I have eaten it and it is much fresher than the pre-packaged ham in the supermarket. The price is very reasonable. If you want to buy homemade ham sandwiches, I will Just go to "mushroom" to buy. "Mushrooms" and coffee beans are also sold. They are not expensive, but Europeans who have drank Italian coffee since childhood say that the quality is not top-notch.

Neighborhood stores cannot enjoy the benefits of economies of scale, so the prices may be higher than chain stores and supermarkets, but the epidemic has highlighted that community stores are less affected by logistics, especially small stores that have their own rooms and operate more flexibly. Hong Kong people are used to helping supermarkets, and they have established the habit of patronizing online stores due to the epidemic. However, at a critical moment, it may be the most inconspicuous neighborhood store that saves you, which is the preciousness of the neighborhood. Therefore, please visit the neighborhood store as much as possible, support the small store, support each other, and help each other.