Five & Dime General Store

Fantastic hole in the wall snack bar with the "World's best Frito pie". Certainly one of the best I've ever had. If they had offered sour cream and tomato it would have been even better. The store has some household essentials, but is mostly touristy souvenirs. Worth visiting for the lunch and experience!

I really, really hope management sees this. We were in to purchase a drink, and an elderly woman was in front of us. She went to pay but only had a $50 bill. Her total was less than $8 and they could not provide change. Nancy, an employee, grabbed her own debit card and paid for the items the woman was purchasing. It was incredibly kind, and Nancy did it with no hesitation. I hope management appreciates Nancy and protects her at all costs. Her kind gesture was not unnoticed

This store had literally everything you could ever need! From everyday items to souvenirs, they had it all. The store is huge and has two floors for browsing. We got our classic state magnet souvenir along with some travel toys for the kids. We also got little grow your own cactus domes. They had lots of things to choose from and the staff was very friendly.

Tons of useful items and souvenirs plus a snack bar featuring the “World Famous” Frito Pie! Frito Pie felt overpriced but it’s a definite tourist attraction (got me in the store) and it was a tasty guilty pleasure!

First time I had a frito pie and I was pleasantly surprised. The snack bar was a neat throwback.

Cute little shop with the “famous frito pie” definitely had to stop in and get one! Shop has all sorts of little gems that reminded me of my childhood! Was awesome to have my kids enjoy the little things as well. Frito pie was good, just missing tomatoes but the experience was pretty cool!

They have a good variety of trinkets and general goods. When I went to similar tourist shops in a place like Vegas, they didn't have the same amount of utility or variety. This is also just a good option to grab a quick, cheap bite to eat.

Staff super nice ... Frito Pie was an experience. could have been hotter (temperature) but still fun.

This is the place for a bomb Fritos Pie efficiently served in a Fritos bag. The Five and Dime Snack Bar's signature item is Fritos corn ships topped with chili, cheese, and onions. It's delicious. Pro tip: pair it with a hot dog if your super hungry.

A nostalgic visit into a five and dime store. Mostly souvenirs to be found here. There is a small cafe in the back which serves Frito pie, small snacks and beverage. The place takes me back. Metered street and lot parking.

This place is horrifyingly wonderful in a 'Craptastic' sort of way! Every tacky souvenir in the Southwest is represented here. However, even locals drop in here because there are 1 or 2 great items in their inventory, and it is a total thrill for young visitors ages 5 to 12. They have (but this may change) one of the only restrooms in the Plaza area that visiting shoppers can use; and if you are depressed, come in to get one of their truly, awfully delicious Frito Pies and a Coke, and watch the tourists come and go. It lifts your soul. I would say this one is a 'don't miss.' One request: be nice to the counter clerks; they are young and I just love their exuberance. God only knows what they see in the course of a normal workday with the parade of tourists passing through.

I had forgot that the Five & Dime was on my spots to hit. The famed ol' school frito pie was known to be served here. The other day we were walking by and I exclaimed, "oh heck, we gotta pop in here". My gal was wondering what did I need from the general store. We worked our way upstairs to where the little food counter was. There wasn't much to it, basically a hotdog counter. But there isn't really much to a basic frito pie either so it made sense. The lady popped out behind the counter and made mine pretty quick. She used a small bag of fritos as is the street way of making em. I was eating them before we were out the door, as good as I would have hoped. It's just a hidden food counter inside a general store, but it is for sure worth a stop in. especially if you are hungry but don't want to sit down for a big mean, this is the spot.

Convenience store with lots of souvenirs but the real prize is in the back. There is a little concession stand in the back with yummy and easy Frito pie! They open up a Frito bag and fill it with red chile and meat with the option of onions and cheese. It was a bit spicy for me so I definitely got the additional onions and cheese. A quick and easy meal while shopping around.

Only place for cigarettes if you're walking around downtown that I've been able to find. Usually a ridiculous line but that's ok. Thanks to the Potters for this lovely place,

Well, I didn't expect this! A colleague and I decided to find this little gem in the rough after a local fire fighter told us we couldn't leave Santa Fe until we tried the Frito Pie at the Five & Dime. We didn't know what to expect when we walked in looking for a restaurant and found a general store but, if ya follow the signs to the Snack Bar upstairs, you'll find their best kept secret... FRITO PIE!! I don't want to spoil it but, for around $8 you get this AWESOME Frito Pie!! If you're in Santa Fe, you have got to try the Frito Pie at the Five and Dime, you will not be disappointed.

Souvenir shop with a snack bar in the back and allegedly the home of the original Frito Pie. This shop while you may or may not find exactly what you're looking for, is something to see when visiting downtown Santa Fe. Merchandise, like most merchandise sold in the immediate area, seems a little pricey, but it's fun to peruse. There's a little bit of everything. Hopefully you'll find exactly what you're looking at a price that seems reasonable to you. If you're a tourist like me, you might really enjoy a Frito Pie on your way out. It's a great shareable snack for two. It is the best Frito Pie ever, no, but it's a classic tasty treat with a fun story from your vacation. As we ate our original Frito Pie we grabbed a park bench in the square and enjoyed the people watching and danced to the beat of the local buskers. It's a memory I'll always cherish. We actually found ourselves in the Five & Dime more than once on our trip...there's so much to see. It's worth a ten minute trip in to see what it's all about. Next trip to Santa Fe, I'm sure I'll find myself wanting to wander back in.

Home of the Frito Pie! I'm sure origins are debatable but to enjoy my trip here in Santa Fe, I had to try it for myself. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street/metered parking and in certain areas there are parking structures. Seating: There is table seating in the back for maybe about 4 groups but you're across from the plaza to enjoy the vibes of Santa Fe. Feels: In the heart of Santa Fe and right across from the plaza. Convenient to pick up snacks or traveler goods. The space itself is very casual and the souvenirs speak for its New Mexico culture and history. FOOD: Frito Pie (Recommend) Now to set a tone. I want to remind everyone that the "home" or "original" is always the most decorated, it's where foundation started and in regards to delivering foundation it does exactly that. A bag of frito pie, grounded beef, mixed with chilli beans, and topped with cheese. A simple savory and portable bite. Usually Fritos are the least favorite of assorted chips but this gives it life. Blessed with crunchy, savory, gooey, spicy, bites. You're in for a simple treat. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Solid. Friendly people and quick service. TL; DR OVERALL: 5 Stars. For a quick snapshot of basic needs for travelers and tourists. It's here! From food, snacks, souvenirs, this the spot. Nothing flashy, just your everyday supplies. TIPS: * Their snack bar times are different from the store. I would suggest coming around 11:30am for open * Educate yourself! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwxQAgsVRoQ&ab_channel=TheSantaFeNewMexican

My recent encounter at this general store left me utterly disgusted. The staff member's behavior was nothing short of abhorrent - not only did they lack any semblance of customer service, but they also took it to the extreme by yelling at patrons. It's shocking that such unprofessionalism is tolerated. Save yourself the headache and avoid this store at all costs; it's an absolute disgrace to customer service standards.

It might have been a disgrace to Santa Fe delicacy that I never got a frito pie and it seems this place has the best one which is my new life goal to try the next time I'm in Santa Fe. Anyways, I came here a few times to get necessity and snacks. They also have a ton of souvenirs you can get. I rummaged through the $6.99 bin of shirts. You probably won't find your size, but I ended up with a cute Santa Fe shirt that I probably would have spent double if not triple the price in other stores. Staff working there were nice too!

Awesome old school souvenir shop that literally has everything. They had blankets from Mexico for $9.99. They had panchos for $13.99, license plates with names on them, stickers, postcards, magnets, t-shirts galore, and even gag gifts like Stuckeys used to sell in the 1970's. I spent way too long in here looking at EVERYTHING! And yes, I bought a sticker, a postcard and a travel size tube of sunscreen (I will need for White Sands). There are everyday items here, too. I laughed when I saw cans of Spaghetti O's and Spam, but maybe if you are backpacking? There is also a snack bar in the very back. I was intrigued by the bags of spices and the bags of the "Smells of New Mexico." I was hoping they would have some sage for smudging, but that's probably the only think they didn't have!

Five and Dime is a different store in downtown Santa Fe where everything is posh and on the pricey side. They do sell cheap souvenirs, some tacky, some decent. The store has a bit of everything, food, drinks, snacks, pills, etc. If you forgot something to pack or ran out or something while you are on the trip you will probably find it here. I fell while walking around Santa Fe trying to orient myself (I will admit I was checking a map on my phone on a sidewalk with road work). So I fell and ran out of band aids after a while. Five and dime came in handy. You need places like this around not just upscale stores. Decent prices, bit of a line which made sense since there the only game in the area. Good customer service. This place has a bit of everything.

I found that the downtown shops of Santa Fe mainly seem to cater to the very wealthy. Coming from Cali I'd say this is the Beverly Hills of New Mexico. High dollar turquoise/silver jewelry and overpriced artifacts abound. Even the outdoor sellers want to charge $60 for a Mexican poncho. I wanted some local souvenirs from my visit, but found most places to be out of my price range. We saw the Five and Dime and thought why not check it out. It's definitely a departure from all the shops that surrounded it, and I admired that. I was pleasantly surprised that it had a big variety of inexpensive gift items and souvenirs. Some of it was the same stuff other stores carried for a fraction of the price. It's a good sized store and has a plethora of things travelers might need, including postcards, toiletries, food and candy. I got some nice handcrafted Christmas ornaments from Peru and a small snowglobe, and they were under $10 each. The gentleman who checked me out was friendly, nice and took a lot of care wrapping my purchases. I wish I would have come here first rather than wading through all the $$$ stores.

There were times in my life when the allure of a Frito Pie would have been so intoxicating that I'm sure the bag would be epoxied on my face with telltale crumbs and chili dribble down my chin. Pretty picture, huh? Well, that's what they're most famous for at this expansive souvenir shop which looks out to the plaza. There's a snack bar in the back which I noticed they have in a lot of shops presumably to generate another revenue stream. Gee, remember five and dimes from your childhood? You don't? What are you, twelve? Anyway, Jamie W. and I passed on the $5.95 Frito Pie since we had one double the price and portion at an art gallery/gift store with guess what, a snack bar in the back. We focused most of our attention on the local souvenirs of which they had an endless variety from hemp hoodies (photo: http://bit.ly/2KADWMj) to slingshots (photo: http://bit.ly/2Nbisrv) to Day of the Dead coffee mugs (photo: http://bit.ly/2KAN4As) to postcards ad nauseam (photo: http://bit.ly/2KCTn6q). And speaking of ad nauseam, how's that Frito Pie treating ya? RELATED - Do you know the way to Santa Fe? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2I4mWdq

Cheap tourist souvenirs are a welcomed sight in this high-end shopping area. Most people in this Five & Dime store appeared to be here for their Frito Pie (as seen on TV) but this is a good store to find souvenirs at walmart prices. Yes, these are cheap souvenirs but sometimes that's okay. They also sell other sundries which is helpful if you left anything at home by accident. This is the cheapest place to shop in Santa Fe Plaza. Tip - If you want quality Santa Fe souvenirs at reasonable prices walk a few store down to Yippee Yi Yo.

Frito pie in a bag. Don't need to say much more. The chili was flavorful and there was a generous amount of cheese. There are not many places to get this and I savored every minute of it. And at a very good price, especially for being right on the plaza.

We always go to this store for incidental personal items like Tylenol and to peruse the cheaper fun stuff. They had butter soft and beautiful southwestern style pashmina. It's always worth a trip in here to see what they have, especially compared to the other shops in the area that are way overpriced. Best Frito Pie you will ever taste is made in the back. Haven't had it for awhile but it used to be an open Fritos bag they poured hormel chili into. sound yuck but incredibly delish. Do not eat if prone to heart attack. Downstairs opens into a different little shop with great crafts like Mexican tin-smithery. Recommended. It's a tradition

If you are searching for the tchotchkes of New Mexico, look no further than Five & Dime. They have them. My wife and I wanted to buy piñon scented incense. They had it, and at a reasonable price, especially when you consider their location on the Plaza. They also sell snack items, clothing, etc.

Five & Dime (formally Woolworths) is an old time gem in Santa Fe. It may seem like a ugly duckling to the Artsy Crowd, but the Five & Dime helps round the corners of the mix. You walk in faced immediately with aisles of everything and anything touristy and last minute personal items left behind. Every keychain imaginable. The flagship of this Duckling is it's huge claim of fame - the World's first Frito Pie!!! I remember seeing this on the television somewhere, forgot about it, and got a pumped seeing this was the place. No challenge this week, such as, over coming some altitude side affects, or hiking the varying terrain, or peering of the edge of Sandia Crest at 10,650 ft, were any greater than MAN vs FRITO PIE in the Bag. Mission accomplished! Spicy bean chili poured over Fritos and topped with shredded cheddar cheese. My only advice - have a drink and a lot of napkins on hand.

Tucked away at the very back of the Five & Dime General Store (on The Plaza downtown) is a simple little snack counter that boasts that this where the Fritos Pie was invented. I don't know about that, but I do know that $5.25 buys you a Fritos bag full of beefy-cheesy-chili flavored goodness blended with beans and Fritos chips. A darn good deal, and a soft drink will only add $1.90 to the tab. The snack bar also offers hot dogs, nachos, pretzels and ice cream. A great place for a meal for kids.

Cute little store in Downtown Santa Fe. If you're looking for souvenirs, clothing and/or gift cards then this is the place for you. They sell a lot of touristy items for cheap. They have a great selection of magnets, which I like. I came here to buy some to take back home. The magnets ranged between $2.99-$8.99 in price. I recommend coming to buy souvenirs here in the downtown area if you're looking for reasonable prices.

Whatever you need, they've got it! Souvenirs, postcards, Dramamine, Frito Pie...I make a point to drop in whenever I'm in Santa Fe. The place is filled with touristy Knick-Knacks. There's a snack bar in the back that is famous for Frito Pie. It's a fun place off of The Plaza.

Just like Horseman's Haven I saw this place on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown. This place is a little hidden cafe in the back of the store so you have to really know it's there to find it. However, the walking taco, was worth the searching I did for the shop. For only $5 you get a quick lunch that will keep you full until dinner! I'm sure most know what a walking taco is, but if not, it's a bag of Fritos with Chile and melted cheese. I'm not saying it's the best thing you will eat on your trip, but if you want a quick affordable lunch, don't pass on it.

i've been going to five and dime for the last three years. I've never had a problem with any employee today. I went in to ask for a pretzel at the deli yesterday they told me they didn't have any somehow this morning. They only had one when I was walking away, I said they must've lied to me yesterday, and this young girl short with little glasses came at me and started yelling at me, and then the big girl behind the counter also came after me they both followed me down the steps from five and dime to the bottom shop at five and dime and out to water Street. Tourists were freaking out these two women were yelling at the top of their lungs at me , and coming at me as if they were going to beat me up so be careful what you say or do there at five and dime in Santa Fe when I called to the manager, the young girl with the glasses on pretended she was the manager know I come out to find out that actually it's a male manager and I'm gonna get a hold of him tomorrow the police have been notified

When I first set foot in and around the Santa Fe Plaza, this location a Woolworth's and the main reason I went in was for the Frito Pie. That consists of a big scoop of homemade chili and cheese right into a bag of Frito chips. It's really bad for you, but in so many good ways. Or as an old friend once stated: If it's not salty, greasy, or crunchy, it's not worth the splurge. As Santa Fe has become for gentrified (both in and out of the historical district), it's a pleasant surprise that a place like the Five & Dime General Store even exists. Gayle and I wandered in to take a look and to stock up on some toiletries. It's what you would expect for a small town variety store. And on that note, the people here are nice, helpful, and a pleasure to be around. And it's a great place to stock up on the basic necessities before or after you buy that expensive piece of southwestern art. And I guarantee you that you'll be able to buy that Frito Pie and leave with change in your pocket.

The Five & Dime in Santa Fe's downtown Plaza is an enigma. The front 1/3 of the store is a tourist souvenir shop with shot glasses, t-shirts, little statues, and other knickknacks. The second 1/3 is a convenience store with medicine, little snacks, bandaids and other things like that. Lastly, the back of the store holds a small counter that made the place famous. The menu at this hidden eatery is pretty straight forward with hot dogs, pizza, and other comfort food, but the thing most people come for is the Frito Pie. These awesome inventions are eaten all over the state, but the Five & Dime is credited with creating it. At one time the building houses a Woolworth's and the cook at the store's lunch counter served up her creations even after the shop closed and became the Five & Dime. The Frito Pie is a big scoop of homemade chili and cheese right into a bag of Frito chips. This comfiest of all comfort food sticks with you all day and is sure to keep your stomach filled for hours after. Coming in at under $5, it's one of the best deals in the whole Plaza! PS. CA$H ONLY!

This is a review of the Frito pie, not the shop in general. While it is somehow a Santa Fe thing to do to go there to get a Frito pie don't do it. It really is not tasty and there are so many better places to go (Del Charro for example, and it is right around the corner).

These pieces of crap are selling President Trump toilet toilet brushes. I asked if they sold President Obama toliet brush during his presidency and they said no.

Not much here. Not even good touristy items. Also not what I would see as a standard five and dime. No water, snacks.

This place is definitely important to the historic Santa Fe Plaza, and anyone who lives in Santa Fe knows of Five & Dime. It serves its purpose, which is being a convenience store along with all the affordable tourist stuff you'd expect to see. Don't wanna spend a ton on jewelry or other super expensive stuff you'll find at other stores? This is the place to go. On multiple visits though I have left a bit angry/frustrated due to the woman that works in the snack bar/cafe area. She's been very rude to me and others on multiple occasions. If you're going here, maybe just stick to the first 3 quarters of the store.

Great little convenience store with the usual sundries. But the star is the nondescript snack bar in the back, home of the Frito Pie. It ain't much to look at, but it will fill you up for about $5. Can't go wrong

We came, we saw, we got the Frito pie! As loyal followers of Anthony Bourdain, this was high on our list. Plus, gotta love a place where you can stock up on essentials and snacks in one place. The prices are higher than the drugstore, though...which is to be expected since this is right on the Plaza.

never had the frito pie so can't comment. however, if you want a t-shirt or something to bring home to a friend, this is the place. I can't begin to list all the stuff you can buy. Incense, shot glasses, fridge magnets, spices and herbs, etc, etc, etc. If you can't find it here it doesn't exist.

Yup, the 5 star rating is for that cheap, sweet Frito Pie. May be the best I've ever had! (complete w/NM red chile)

Actually haven't spent much time in the General Store portion but the in the back grill has our attention anytime we're anywhere near the Santa Fe Plaza. And that's because of the best we've ever had anywhere Frito Pie. The beans, meat, and red chile mix is poured straight into the single serve bag of Fritos and topped with cheese. There are other food items offered but honestly I've never even considered the choices because that's how good the Frito Pie is. The attitude of the ladies at the counter is a bit shy of a brillo pad, but as long as you know what you're going to have before you get there it's quick, pretty cheap for the large portion, and you get to take it out and sit in the Plaza for some people watching. And make sure you have cash, nothing else is accepted at the food counter, though there is an ATM at the front of the store.

This review is about the frito pie only. We did not purchase anything else or really even shop. Although I did notice they have quite a bit of souvenirs. The frito pie come neatly presented in the frito bag itself cut lengthwise. They pour a good three scoops of house made chili/chile sauce with beans in it. They top it off with some shredded cheese. I really like spicy food so for me it was awesome. My gf struggled a bit because she is not as heat tolerant. Beware, this chili/chile is not shy and will increase as you continue eating. Have something to drink and napkins on standby while you eat this. Also use faster you eat, the less soggy it'll be. Not sure why ppl complain about that because it seems obvious to me. Like complaining about your cereal getting soggy. If you leave it long enough it'll happen. All in all, highly recommended. A must stop if you're in Santa Fe.

Not a bad place to walk into if on a budget. They had a lot of touristy stuff that had me wondering in the aisles to keep out of the sun. Located in the back of the building is a small little counter that serves food. You can order a frito pie. Not even sure what that is? But I think it involves meat? Bleh! This is a great place if you happen to need the bathroom. They are located in the back. I walked out with some gifts to take back home for friends. My boyfriend picked out a cold drink from the fridge. Just your usual market/gift shop.

To be honest, my taste buds were so shot from a hot sauce I ate earlier in the day, I couldn't taste a thing in my Frito pie. No, I didn't get the hot sauce from Five & Dime. I got it elsewhere but unfortunately it left a lingering effect in my mouth. I'll have to try their Frito pie again when my mouth is in better shape. It should be noted that Five & Dime is hardly the only place in town to purchase a Frito pie. Many places sell them throughout northern New Mexico. However the Frito pies sold at Five & Dime are fairly cheap at under 5 bucks, the chile is cooked daily, and they serve them in a real Frito bags. Not every place in town serves them in actual Frito bags, so that's a special nice touch. The snack bar in the rear of the building is quite tiny. The rest of the store is a touristy gift store that sells cheap poorly made trinkets. Lastly, the employees working the front counter seemed to be the weirdest of the weird. I was almost afraid to ask them a question.

When you're in the old plaza in Santa Fe, a sign advertising the original Frito Pie may catch your eye. Don't ignore it, run to it. Pass the kitschy toys and knick knacks inside, pass the offensive signs made to hide in some bro's "man-cave". Head to the back and order the Frito Pie, then bring that monstrosity to a bench in the old plaza and feel the shame as you eat a bag of Fritos with what feels like 12 pounds of chili stuffed inside of it. It's flavorful, it's spicy, its hearty, and I'll be damned if it's not the best thing I've eaten out of a lunch counter in a general store. My girlfriend sat there next to me and couldn't stop talking about how good it was between bites. Eat this, eat all of this.

This place was weird/goofy but the Frito Pies were a great little snack while walking around the plaza. The Knick knacks they sell are way overpriced, but that doesn't really seem like the point of the place.

Amazing frito pies. Rude staff. Don't ask to use the restroom or the horrible staff will call you names. Never coming back here again. I'll find cheap tourist items at another location from now on.

Nice staff people. Broad variety of goods for travelers. Got some ice cold water, sodas, and bubble bath for me to enjoy later at La Fonda. Cashiers were really friendly and nice. Did not have Head and Shoulders shampoo or comparable dandruff shampoo.

I've heard about Frito Pie for ages now and have been wanting to try it for just as long. What's not to like? I love Fritos, I love chili, I love cheese and I love chopped onions. The famed Frito Pie is essentially that all thrown together in the bag of Fritos. Supposedly the Five & Dime serves some of the best available. After wading through all the tourists and trying to find parking in "downtown" Santa Fe, 20 minutes later I was finally able to get to the store. I was extremely excited to see the Frito Pie, this fabled delicacy. After hearing the shocking price of just under $5 (for what it is) I conceded that it was something that I just had to try. As an option I had mine topped with the previously mentioned chopped onions and dug in...well, it was an extreme let down after all the build up. It's nothing more than I could make myself and probably better, definitely cheaper. The Fritos are of course Fritos, onions onions and cheese...a store bought 3-cheese blend. The sad point here really though was the chili...there was nothing about it that stood out, it had absolutely no bite or bark to it. It was bland and tasteless. When I think of chili I think of a rich, hearty pot of meat and spices. This had none of those qualities, it was loaded with beans and in all honesty was completely overshadowed by all the other ingredients in the bag. Looks like I'm still on a search until I can find a Frito Pies that I'm impressed with. Any suggestions? The Five & Dime General Store, although draped in old-time lore, is sadly nothing more than a tourist trap nowadays. I have photos and a more in depth review on my personal blog.

Went in for the "World Famous" frito pie. Was it good? Yes. Was it the best I ever had? No. First, their chili was made with beans. I don't do beans in my chili. Second, the chili wasn't hot enough. I am talking temperature hot; not spicy hot. Although the chili wasn't spicy enough for my personal taste, either. However, if these folks did create the original frito pie, I applaud them. I love my frito pies! Frito pie aside, this is a pretty cool store with the typical Five & Dime store items that I grew up with and loved as a child. They also carry reasonably priced souvenier items and are conveniently located on the Plaza.

Great prices, great selection and outstanding service. We found a terra-cotta owl and roadrunner similar in cost to trips to Mexico. Most impressive was the customer service which included packing and readying these pieces for our flight back to AZ. Thank you for taking the extra time and effort to ensure safe travel.

If you are looking for anything while you are in downtown Santa Fe and you don't have it, Five and Dime probably does. It's not fancy or clean, but it's convenient. My husband and I buy shot glasses every time we travel from where ever we went, this was the first place that had them for a decent price and a large selection.

Known to my family as "the shortcut store" for its having one entrance on the square and one (via another store) closer to parking, the best part about this place is ability to save a person some walking. Other than that, it appears as a rather strange anomaly beside all the high-rent Native American art stores. The Five and Dime is exactly what you'd expect from the name: a curious throwback to '50s style one-stops, with a whole lot of overpriced household miscellany and touristy bric-a-brac. Imagine if the sundries section of your local gas station were expanded to fill a rather large storefront, and you have this place. What's the point? Well, some people swear by the Frito pie. While I can appreciate the years of dedication and culinary training it must have taken to be able to fill a bag of chips with chile and low-grade cheese, I'd much rather save five bucks and undertake the Herculean task myself. Just like with their inedible stock, they are really just dishing out cheap garbage at high prices for a captive tourist clientele. Do yourself a favor: skip this store and spend the extra time talking to the amazing Native American artists selling their wares under the awning across the street. Then you'll get a real idea of what Sante Fe is about.

I'm on a trip to Santa Fe right now with my mom. I went into the Five and Dime today in the downtown area and found a good array of reasonably priced gifts (magnets, calendars, salsa, t-shirts, coloring books, etc). Most people want to taste the Frito Pie but I was in the market for thank-you gifts to take home. When I went to the cashier to check out, the red-headed woman in her 60s was busy putting strings on wooden butterflies and barely acknowledged me. While waiting for my credit card to go through, she resumed putting strings on butterflies so I tore off the receipt when it was done printing and signed. "I wish you hadn't done that," she snarled, "sometimes it ruins the machine." Really? A minute ago, you didn't appear to give a damn, lady. I responded "Well, sorry I ruined your day." "You didn't," she huffed, "you're not that powerful." In any retail setting, regardless of the location and the clientele, vendors need to train their employees to be polite and courteous. I've read other reviewers claiming the same thing about the rudeness of employees that work in this store. I wish I had read them before I walked in. Avoid this store and the nasties who work there. You can get t-shirts, post cards, magnets and the like at practically any store in downtown Santa Fe. I was in quite a few of them, and I was greeted and treated respectfully. You can make your own Frito Pie at home and find all your retail needs met at surrounding establishments for nearly the same price with much better service and kinder people. Toothpaste and other items can be found at Albertson's, CVS or Walgreens. I'd rather drive the extra mile and receive polite service than walk into a store where the clerks are crappy and rude.