The 3 corner stores that still offer credit in Menga

Introduction: Credit hasn't died, it's just hiding in Menga

If you arrived in Cali thinking that credit —that magical word that lets you take bread, milk, and soap without paying right away— was a thing of the past, I have news for you: in Menga, a neighborhood many know for its hills and gated communities, credit is still alive. But it's not the grandmother's credit scribbled in a notebook with shaky handwriting. Here, it's a system of trust, of knowing glances, and unwritten rules that Univalle university students and new residents are rediscovering. In May 2026, while banks ask for a co-signer and credit bureaus chase you, three places in Menga lend a hand without asking: the Tienda 'La Bendición', the Bodega 'El Pipiripao', and the Puesto de arepas 'La Lola'. This article is a practical guide so you know how it works, what to expect, and, above all, how not to mess up.

Menga is not just any neighborhood. It's in northwestern Cali, right next to the road to Yumbo, with a mix of family homes, mechanic workshops, and popular commerce that resists gentrification. Here, people know each other, dogs say hello, and debts are paid with your word. If you're a foreign student or just moved in, understanding this is key to surviving without a credit card. Let's get to the point.

Emotional map of credit in Menga

So you can get your bearings, this isn't one of those tourist routes that end up in an Instagram photo. It's a map of trust, the kind built over time. The three stops are:

• Tienda 'La Bendición' (weekly credit, ideal for basic groceries).
• Bodega 'El Pipiripao' (bartering clothes for groceries, perfect if you're broke).
• Puesto de arepas 'La Lola' (end-of-month tab, for when hunger strikes and payday hasn't arrived).

Each has its own logic, its own code. I'll explain how each one works so you don't show up like a lost tourist.

What to do: How credit works at each place

Tienda 'La Bendición': Weekly credit

Located on Calle 8 with Carrera 15, right next to the P10 bus stop, 'La Bendición' is a classic corner store: metal shelves, the smell of Rey soap, and a small TV always playing soap operas. Doña Nelly, the owner, is a woman in her 60s who has watched half of Menga grow up. Her credit system is simple: she writes down what you take in a green notebook and expects you to pay every Saturday. She doesn't ask for a guarantor or a utility bill. Just your face and your word.

How to ask for credit here? You arrive, buy something small first —a bread, a juice— and chat for a while. Doña Nelly evaluates you without you noticing: how you talk, how you pay, if you're friendly. On the second or third visit, you can drop a "Doña Nelly, can you credit me until Saturday?" If she nods, you're in. Amounts don't exceed 20,000 or 30,000 Colombian pesos per week. No asking for a refrigerator. This is for the basics: rice, oil, eggs, milk.

Fun fact: Doña Nelly never uses a calculator. She adds up prices in her head, and if you say "that's 12,500", she corrects you with a smile. Once an engineering student tried to cheat her by rounding down. He never set foot in the store again. Trust is a mirror: if you break it, it reflects on you.

Reference prices (May 2026): Pound of rice at $2,500 COP, cooking oil (bag) at $1,800 COP, fresh bread at $500 COP. All can be credited if you prove reliable.

Bodega 'El Pipiripao': Bartering clothes for groceries

This is another level. At Carrera 16 # 8-34, between a motorcycle workshop and a hardware store, is 'El Pipiripao'. It's not a common warehouse: it's a center for bartering where you exchange clothes, shoes, or kitchen utensils for food. It's run by don Jairo, a former construction worker who one day got tired of seeing neighbors throw away useful things. "Everything is useful here, except envy," he says when asked.

How does it work? You bring what you no longer use: t-shirts, pants, jackets, even old pots. Don Jairo inspects them, assigns a value in "pipiripuntos" (his own currency), and with that you can exchange for rice, lentils, pasta, canned goods, soap, or deodorant. The exchange rate varies: a jacket in good condition might be worth 15 pipiripuntos, which equals a pound of rice (2,500 COP) and two cans of tuna (6,000 COP). No money changes hands. It's pure exchange.

Who goes? Univalle students leaving the city and donating their clothes, families receiving donations and swapping them for food, and people who simply want to get rid of things without feeling guilty. Don Jairo is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There's no credit here because there's no money, but bartering is older than money.

Fun fact: Don Jairo has a photo album where he keeps the stories of the objects. Once, a stuffed animal arrived that belonged to a girl who had grown up. It was exchanged for a rice cooker. "That stuffed animal now belongs to a kid from the hill," he says. Bartering here isn't just a transaction; it's emotional recycling.

Puesto de arepas 'La Lola': End-of-month tab

At the corner of Carrera 14 with Calle 9, from 6 p.m., the smell of corn and cheese wafts out. 'La Lola' is an arepa stand run by doña Lola, a woman in her 50s who knows the life of half the neighborhood. Her specialty is arepas de huevo with hogao, but what makes her unique is that she allows payment at the end of the month. Yes, you read that right: you eat the arepas today and pay when your paycheck or subsidy arrives.

How does it work? Doña Lola has a notebook with names. When you order, she writes down: "Juan, two arepas de huevo with cheese, 8,000 COP." No interest, no surcharge. The rule is that you pay before the 5th of the following month. If you don't pay, it's not that she charges interest; it's that she won't credit you again. And in a neighborhood where everyone knows each other, that's worse than a bank debt.

Who uses this? Students living on an allowance, informal workers paid per job, and the occasional neighbor with an unexpected medical expense. Doña Lola doesn't ask why you need credit. She just says: "Pay when you can, but pay."

Reference prices (May 2026): Arepa de huevo at $4,000 COP, arepa with cheese at $3,000 COP, arepa with hogao at $3,500 COP. Everything can be credited until the end of the month.

Where to eat or drink: Beyond credit

While credit is the focus of this guide, in Menga there are also options to eat without needing a notebook. But if you want to maintain trust, I suggest you combine credited purchases with a cash purchase every now and then. At 'La Bendición', Doña Nelly sells black coffee for $1,000 COP and sodas for $2,500 COP. At 'El Pipiripao', don Jairo sometimes has free pot coffee for those who barter. And at 'La Lola', if you pay on time, doña Lola occasionally gives you an extra arepa. It's her way of saying "thanks for keeping your word."

If you want something more elaborate, on the main avenue of Menga there's a restaurant called "El Sabor de la Abuela" (no credit, but dishes from $12,000 COP) and a fruit shop "La Cosecha" where you can buy natural juices. But that's for another article.

How to get there and transportation

Menga isn't too far from downtown Cali, but public transport is the most common option. Here you go:

• By bus: From the Unidad Deportiva MIO station, take route P10 (Paradero Menga). It drops you off at Calle 8 with Carrera 15, right next to 'La Bendición'. The fare is $2,800 COP (reference price for May 2026).
• By taxi or app: From downtown (Plaza de Cayzedo), a taxi costs between $10,000 and $15,000 COP. From Univalle, about $8,000 COP. Ask to be dropped off at Carrera 14 with Calle 9, near 'La Lola'.
• By bicycle: If you live in northern Cali, Menga is accessible by bike. Go up the road to Yumbo and turn off at the entrance to Menga. There's a bike lane on Sunday mornings.
• On foot: If you're in the neighborhood, everything is a 10-15 minute walk. Menga isn't huge, but the hills can be tough. Wear comfortable shoes.

Local tips: The unwritten code of credit

Not everyone can just show up and ask for credit. There are rules the locals know and that tourists or new residents must learn if they don't want to mess up. Here they are:

1. Show up with your own notebook. No joke. Carrying a notebook and pen shows you're organized and take the debt seriously. At 'La Bendición', Doña Nelly will look at you differently if you pull out a notebook to write down what you owe. At 'El Pipiripao', don Jairo will give you more pipiripuntos if you show him you keep a record of what you bartered.
2. Never ask for credit the first time. It's bad form. Buy something with cash, chat, come back. Trust is earned with time, not need.
3. Pay before promised. If Doña Nelly credited you until Saturday, pay her on Friday. If doña Lola expects payment by the end of the month, pay her on the 28th. That earns you extra points and ensures they'll keep crediting you when you need it most.
4. At 'El Pipiripao', don't bring trash. Don Jairo doesn't accept torn, dirty, or holey clothes. Wash them, iron them if you can. Bartering is about dignity, not charity.
5. Don't abuse it. Credit is for emergencies, not vices. If you ask for a case of beer every week, you'll get dirty looks. Use credit for food, hygiene, or health items.
6. Recommend others. If a friend needs credit and you're already a trusted customer, introduce them. Doña Nelly and doña Lola accept references. It's like a social network, but without an algorithm.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask for credit if I'm a foreigner or tourist?

Yes, but with conditions. The owners of these places are naturally distrustful, not because they're bad people, but because they've seen people disappear without paying. If you're a foreigner, your best calling card is speaking basic Spanish, showing respect, and buying something with cash first. If you also carry a notebook and explain that you're passing through but will pay, they'll likely give you a chance. At 'La Lola', doña Lola has credited exchange students who later sent her the money from their home country. It's all about attitude.

What happens if I don't pay my credit on time?

It depends on the place. At 'La Bendición', Doña Nelly will give you a one-week grace period. If you don't pay, she erases you from the notebook and you won't get credit again. At 'El Pipiripao', there's no credit, but if you don't return what you bartered (a rare thing), don Jairo simply won't accept you anymore. At 'La Lola', if you go past the 5th of the following month, doña Lola will charge you with looks and comments in front of other customers. No one will sue you, but your reputation in the neighborhood will be damaged. In a place where trust is currency, that's worse than a debt.

Does the barter at 'El Pipiripao' accept anything?

Don Jairo is selective. He accepts clothes in good condition (no stains, no tears), usable shoes, kitchen utensils (pots, pans, cutlery), books (no torn pages), and toys (complete and clean). He doesn't accept old electronics (unless they work), large furniture (no space), or perishable food. If you bring something useless, he returns it with a smile and a "next time." It's best to call ahead or stop by on a Saturday to ask. He doesn't have a phone, but you can ask at the neighboring store, the hardware store "El Tornillo."

CTA: Saturday is the day

If this guide helped you, don't just read it. The best time to start is this Saturday. Show up with your notebook and a kilo of rice for bartering at Bodega El Pipiripao (Carrera 16 # 8-34) at 10 a.m. Don Jairo opens on time, and the first ones there get a better selection of groceries. If you don't have clothes to barter, bring the rice and negotiate: sometimes he accepts direct exchanges. And if you're up for it, afterwards stop by 'La Bendición' to buy a bread with cash and tell Doña Nelly you're new in town. In a month, you'll have your name in the green notebook. Credit hasn't died; it's just waiting for you to prove you're trustworthy.