Скачать или смотреть Small town retail in Costa Rica

What if Amazon nor Walmart never existed?

In this week's episode of The Retail Nomad, we take a step back in time—waay back—to explore two mountainside towns in Costa Rica: San Isidro and San Rafael de Heredia. No global fast food chains. No digital kiosks. No QR codes. Just old-school, brick-and-mortar retail.

You’ll see what shopping looks like in a world untouched by e-commerce:

Mega Super, one of Costa Rica’s major grocery chains

Local stores selling paint (Lanco), fresh produce, butcher shops, shoes, and clothing

Streets built around churches, soccer fields, and central parks—not massive parking lots

No omnichannel strategy here. Just a handshake and a storefront.

While North American retail has evolved with self-checkout, AI, and same-day delivery, this episode highlights what hasn’t changed in small-town Latin American retail: community-based commerce, customer loyalty built over generations, and stores within walking distance of home and daily life.

Special thanks to the Badilla Martinez family for the behind-the-scenes access and local hospitality.

For those curious about how the rest of the world shops—and what lessons we might re-learn—this is worth the watch.

Feel free to subscribe to The Retail Nomad (YouTube) channel to see commerce on a global footprint.

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