Cuba is about to inaugurate a downtown shopping mall in Havana that will include clothing and electronics stores, fast-food shops and even parking for 200 cars. The Carlos III Commercial Center, on a downtown Havana plaza named after a Spanish king, will soon open its doors after a one-year renovation of the building, Cuban authorities announced. Some 20 stores will sell clothes, shoes, electronics, perfumes and paper goods, but the mall also will offer Chinese and Italian fast food, a snack bar, an ice cream store and a bread and pastry shop.
The mall is the latest addition to a string of Western-style shops that have sprung up around Havana in the last five years and brought a measure of color and entertainment to the once commercially barren city. Hamburger chains called Burgui and Rapido will offer traditional US fast-food fare, while other shops will offer pizza, ice cream, Spanish tapas, and even Mexican tacos.
Cimex, a government-owned firm that specializes in hard-currency deals, spent some $9 million renovating the building and its surroundings to create The Carlos III Commercial Center. A chain of other Cimex shops in converted mansions offers imported goods and is stocked with everything from clothes to electronics, all in dollar prices. The shops reported doing $500 million to $600 million in sales last year. Cimex has also announced that it will soon open nine dollar stores in Havana this year and will inaugurate a new recording studio equipped for digital recordings.
Cuba also announced that the government's Cubanacan tourism company and the Italian consortium Proson have established a joint venture, Iris S.A., to build six hotels on the island and open shops that will sell Italian products. Italians are now the single largest group of tourists visiting Cuba with Canadians following in second place.
About the Author Marc M. Harris is the President of The Harris Organisation, a financial planning and investment management firm with a staff of 150 people in Panama. One of their affiliate companies is Havana Holdings Investment Trust.
Copyright © 1997 by Marc M. Harris
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