Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
The owner of Chacharas Gema, Gema Garcia Hernandez, greets customers as they enter the store.
Outside the store on 7th Street.
A bouquet of colorful balloons is available for celebrations.
Small kitchen items are found on another wall in the store.
A wide selection of drinks on a store shelf.
Colorful gift bags, ribbons and tissue paper are sold at the store.
Kitchen items such as different size drink containers and other kitchenware are available.
Sweet and salty snacks at the store.
Miscellaneous household items such as outlet adapters and small light bulbs are placed on one wall in the store.
Chacharas Gema is a little shop at 7th Street that is filled with surprises.
Owner Gema Garcia Hernandez greets all who enter with a warm welcome.
Hernandez, originally from El Grullo, Jalisco, Mexico, arrived in Wasco 19 years ago in 2001 and has owned the shop since 2002.
Hernandez said she and her family were looking for a place to set up their shop and decided to look in Delano; however, after stopping in Wasco first, they spotted the downtown and liked what they saw.
"We owned the same type of business in our hometown in Mexico," she said.
"We are a family of five that came from Mexico trying to look for a better life for our sons and for them to have a better life and work opportunity. " She added that the family has lived a happy and prosperous life in Wasco. "All my sons are very responsible men that went to school," she said. "Now they have good jobs where they can help better the community."
Chacharas Gema carries a little bit of everything, from small packs of snacks, household cleaners, gift bags, hardware, to kitchen items and balloons.
"Our biggest sellers are gifts, accessories and cosmetics," Hernandez said.
"I like Wasco because it's a very commercial town and a lot of people come to purchase from neighbor towns," she said. "Also because people are very friendly and calm."
One of her concerns is the delinquency in the city. "I would like Wasco to have more vigilance or security and to better the green areas of the town," she said. "I also feel like the town needs to add some public restrooms downtown."
Hernandez said she belonged to the Downtown Business Association for four or five years, but that she doesn't currently belong to it.
"I feel like years ago, the town was more worried about local businesses and would help promote local businesses, but that has stopped," she said.
Hernandez said her family lived in Wasco for eight years, but now live in Shafter.
Chacharas Gema is located at 911 7th St. The store can be reached at 661-758-3664.
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