Tlapalería

A tlapalería is a traditional Mexican shop selling paint, solvents, tools and general hardware supplies. The name comes from the Nahuatl word tlapalli, meaning “color” or “paint,” a reminder that these shops originally specialized in pigments and painting materials.

Today the tlapalería overlaps with the ferretería (hardware store), and many neighborhood shops advertise themselves as both. Don’t confuse it with the tienda de abarrotes, which sells groceries and everyday household goods.