While driving through Hazelwood, one might initially miss Tienda La Placita. This tiny Spanish grocery store nestled in the Elm Grove Shopping Center on North Lindbergh, between Starbucks and Pueblo Nuevo, and is easy to overlook at first.

However, this miniature grocery store shouldn’t be skipped–with low prices and a surprisingly vast selection of rare foods and spices, Tienda La Placita is a foodie’s dream. I spoke with owner Noralba Mora about the shop’s origins, as well as plans for the future.

“Tienda La Placita has been here in Hazelwood for about (seven) years,” Mora explained. “We have a little bit of everything for our customers here.”

The specialty grocery store carries a variety of products for the convenience of its customers. Tienda La Placita carries a mixture of fresh, frozen, and packaged goods. The store also boasts a small refrigerated section filled with drinks ranging from horchata to Jarritos, a Mexican soda.

“Jarritos is really popular in Mexico,” Mora said. “We carry a lot of different flavors, but I think our most popular is tamarind.”

In addition to soda, Tienda La Placita also carries packaged foods. Customers can enjoy ­­La Costena Pinto Beans, Spanish cookie sandwiches, and even Klass, a Mexican powdered drink mix. Prices are surprisingly low for a specialty grocery store like Tienda La Placita.

Although Tienda La Placita has a core group of regulars that patronize the store, Mora expressed some concern over the store’s future.

“When we first opened in Hazelwood, we had a lot more business,” Mora said. “Nowadays, we don’t get much traffic in here at all.”

The future of Tienda La Placita may be in question, but for now, the store offers plenty of affordable Spanish treats for all shoppers. Next time you find yourself in Hazelwood, be sure to pay a visit to this unique shop, located at 7509 N. Lindbergh Blvd in the Elm Grove Shopping Center.