Riata Stop

My go-​to convenience store when I’m on the way home. Ali and his crew epitomize friendliness and helpfulness. Large selection of chips, sodas, juices, beer, and wine. Plenty of neon signs adorn the store, and Ali would love you to make an offer on any of them. Yes, we’re talking barter and old-​fashioned negotiation! Plus, they are open 365 days a year, which comes in quite handy on holidays!

The people who run this store are very nice and friendly, but I do have a HUGE problem with it. The store is right down the road from where I work. I carpool to work, so don’t usually have a ride to the store during my lunch break. My lunch starts at 6 AM, and I have walked to this store 3 times in the past month on my lunch break. 3 times out of those 4, the store was closed. It clearly states on the door that the store opens at 6 AM M-​F. If out of the 4 times I have walked there, and 3 times it wasn’t open when it should’ve been, it can be easily assumed that this store doesn’t go by the posted times all the time.
It’s very inconvenient to walk to a store that should be open, but isn’t. Bad for business.

This store puts the convenience in Convenience Store. Dan’s right. Riata needed a store like this.
Ted is correct also: Good selection of beer. I even found Ice House there. Wow that brings me back.
Wine selection is decent.
But best of all is Pupaul. That guy is cool. He remembers everyone’s preferred ciggarettes like your favorite bartender remembers your favorite drink. Before you even get to the counter he’s got it already for you. He’s also remembered a friend of mine got in an accident and asks how she’s doing all the time.

This is a great place to pick up beer when you haven’t planned far enough ahead to get some earlier in the week. They’ve got a great beer selection for a spot this small with several of the good texas beers and a decent spread of imports. I don’t know anything about wine, but they have a ton of bottles, so there’s probably something good.
The dude who’s usually working here is pretty chill. The past few times I’ve been here it’s smelled kinda funny.

Riata always needed a convenience store. Now there is one.