A Business Known As A Home

Reporter: Jordan Guidry

TEMPE, Ariz. - Considered a second home for students at Arizona State University, El Paisano's becomes a staple with the hybrid mix of a convenience store and Mexican grill. 

The convenience store and Mexican grill hybrid is owned by Hashem Hamid. Hamid said this place has become a staple amongst students, and the reason why it's become such a staple is because of its extended hours and its affordability, and consistently fresh food.

Hamid opened up El Paisanos to serve the ASU community. The convenience store and Mexican Hybrid are located just right off campus, the store stays open until 4 a.m.

“This place is a second home for students, and we are welcoming to students, knowing that we are one of the only places that is open until 4 a.m., feeding students and giving them prices they can afford, which separates us from other businesses,” Hamid said in the store. 

Hamid said the restaurant is open for an extended number of hours, as well as the prices of the food that's sold there. Hamid said that because their food is cheap and reasonable, along with other items in the store, students will keep on coming in to get whatever they can to satisfy their needs. 

The store is a classic convenience store that sells candy, chips, and drinks, but alongside, inside the store lies a Mexican grill which Hamid said serves fresh-cooked tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more, with most meals priced to suit a college student's budget. 

El Paisanos is known for its cheap prices, ranging from different types of burritos being no more than $12, Nachos being no more than $10, and tacos and quesadillas also being no more than $12, meeting the needs of students who are on a college budget. 

Hamid said what makes the Mexican grill inside El Paisanos so special is its fresh ingredients, fast service, and welcoming environment. Hamid said that the business will see an expansion due to the students' many demands, making this store stronger than it's ever been before. 

Students like Aria Decarlo said she loves El Paisanos because it was a place where she felt welcomed and a place where she knew was open after a late night with her friends. 

“This place is my second home, it's cheap and affordable for someone who is on a college budget, and if I‘m out with friends, this is the one place I can count on to grab a nice fresh meal to end off my night,” Decarlo said expressing her love for this place. 

Other convenience stores are right across the street from campus that are also open at night, but Hamid said a few of those businesses don’t have food that's as fresh as El Paisanos. Hamid said that they have the student crowd, knowing they sell items ranging from drinks to fresh Mexican food, taking over the name for one of the most popular spots to eat at ASU. 

Another ASU student, Emory Maksymov, said that she agrees with the idea that El Paisanos is one of the most popular spots at ASU and that it's the spot most students go to on a late night out. 

“This place is a landmark for ASU,” Emory said. “It’s the only place, in my opinion, where you can get food and other items at the same time, and it's also open late, and students have easy access to it since it's right next to campus.” 

The vision that Hamid has for this business is clear and simple. Hamid said that every time he sees new students come into the store, he sees El Paisanos become more than just a convenience store. 

“By expanding and expanding and getting the attention of more students, this store will become more than just a business, it will become a community,” Hamid said.