ABSTRACT
Problems confronting the grocers were those intrinsic to the store's internal operation, such as credit and inventory acquisition, and those occasioned by external influences, primarily governmental interference. Mexican grocers were particularly troubled by their employees and administrators. Likewise of great concern to the Puebla grocers were the limitations stipulated in the 1757 regulations on plaza purchases such as chickens, eggs, birds, fruit, cheese, greens, and firewood, typically brought to town by Indians. The government agency charged with supervision of the grocers was the town council through the offices of its Fiel Ejecutoria. The Mexican grocers were also subject to the limited jurisdiction of the merchant tribunal, which as a court heard bankruptcy cases. While many problems confronted the Buenos Aires grocers, one central, overriding issue troubled them: the grocers and the town council maintained divergent views concerning the basic nature of a small retail grocery store.
