Seen: YouTube star comes knocking Buen Vida seeks stylish cats, beachy café

Scaling the wall

For years, the narrative was that only foreigners are interested in Centro homes. Sticking a fork in that one is Roger Góngora and his team at Trasmuro — or, Behind the Wall. Their witty, quick-paced YouTube videos present some of Mérida’s most interesting new builds and renovations to a Spanish-speaking audience. In a year, the channel has built an audience of nearly 200,000 subscribers. Our favorite is when the charming host uses his own slim shoulders as a unit of measure, standing in front of a post and declaring it “one Roger wide.” His observations are endless and enlightening as he delves into each home’s construction, amenities, and, the property’s history. The homes not necessarily for sale, because they’re probably not — they’re just really interesting homes. And for viewers still learning Spanish, Roger’s humor is not lost — many of his videos have subtitles. Facebook, YouTube: @trasmuro

This old thing?

Mexican clothing brand Cecilia México sees fashion potential in your broom closet, or wherever you keep your cleaning rags. Jergas, as they’re called, are those iconic little rectangle cloths that sop up the rain water when your skylight leaks for the hundredth time. As a poncho or hoodie, the cloth has been worn for years by surfer dudes on the Pacific coast. But this is the first time we’ve seen a Jerga miniskirt. It was a social media sensation for a hot minute. @cecilia.mexico

Beachy beans

We’re tripping over cafés in the Centro (see the “What’s New” café section in Issue 6) but we’re betting the beach could use more coffee shops like this one. Coastal Coffee, which opened in Chelem during a very trying 2021, is owned by Benjamin Solis, who’s from Progreso; Guerrero native José Gallian, and Betsy Mahoney, who hails from Oregon. Betsy tells us that iced coffee is very popular, as are burgers and fries. As if that’s not a broad enough offering, Coastal Coffee also sells home décor. “My clients love being able to just stop by and pick up a gift or buy something new for their house,” Betsy says. Calle 21 and 22, Chelem. @coastalcoffeechelem

Creature comforts

A standout among all the countless vendors at Mérida’s outdoor bazaars is Buen Vida, which crafts strikingly well-designed toys, beds and towers for the cats in your life. They are tasteful, attractive and emphasize natural materials. The craftsman, Raj Singh, previously lived in England, India, Burma and Canada. A software engineer by trade, Raj still run a couple of tech businesses in Canada in the medical and agricultural fields. “I have never built anything with my hands before. I haven’t owned any cats either. I am at the stage of my life where some people either buy a Harley or a Mazda Miata. I decided to get a couple of cats and start building things,” Raj explains. “We also have products for lighting and home décor but the cat business keeps us run off our feet.” Look for his table at Parque Santa Ana, Parque San Juanistas in Col. Campestre or at Expo de Mascotas — the Pet Expo — in the Siglo XXI convention center on Dec. 11. @buenvida_mexico

Signs of the times

From Santa Lucía park to the Prolongación, we’re seeing a beer promotion that’s unusually aggressive for a city that’s normally pretty picky about signage. All around are plastic letters spelling out a famous beer brand, some so big you can sit on them. The biggest sign was lugged up on a second-floor roof, letter by letter (plus the big star shape), then removed, then taken up a second time. The Dutch brewing company behind the brand, which rhymes with Leineken, is pushing hard to expand in Mexico. Earlier this year, they expanded their operations with a US$90 million plant in the country’s north. And with this campaign, they’re firing salvos at the mighty Modelo brand, which has a massive modern plant in Hunucmá.

Yes, we paid 289 pesos for a copy.

Scooped!

When Chuch Estudio made the cover of Dwell, we were both excited and bummed out. Excited that a Mérida designer was getting such excellent exposure in a U.S. shelter magazine, and annoyed that they beat us to the punch. Architect (and a Dwell “Rising Star”) Aranza García sells home goods, furniture, lighting, and textiles from local artisans. Of course, Dwell features the work of many creative expats in Yucatán. @chuch_estudio

YUCATÁN MAGAZINE

Watch for falling houses

Why do we keep seeing abandoned homes falling down in the Centro? More than 200 properties in Mérida’s Centro are severely structurally unstable, according to Yucatán’s civil protection unit. Unlike in other countries, the government is reluctant to take over a blighted property until it has actually collapsed and poses a danger. Bureaucracy is another culprit. Renovations in the historic section are often held up by red tape, which is more than whatever’s literally holding up the buildings. “Of course, there needs to be an oversight to protect cultural heritage, but their bureaucracy often makes it way more difficult than it need to be,” says a source who works at INAH, the agency in charge of historic preservation.