Holguín's First Dollar Store Opens During Power Outage

The Cuban government continues to expand its network of dollar-based retail outlets across the nation. The latest addition is in Holguín, where the first store operating in this currency was recently opened, coinciding with a power outage.

"Come visit us at Agua y Jabón. We look forward to welcoming you at Las Maravillas on Frexes Street / Maceo and Mártires," announced the Tiendas Caribe chain on Facebook. Previously operating in MLC, this store officially opened on Tuesday, February 18th. It specializes in hygiene products, perfumes, cleaning supplies, household items, and baby goods.

Payments can be made exclusively in cash dollars or through USD bank cards, including international ones and the Clásica card provided by the CADECAS network. According to a report by CubaNet, the store spans about 190 square meters with around twenty shelves. The lack of natural light makes shopping challenging during power outages, as posters cover the windows of the facade.

The store's hours are from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, but it closes an hour early to allow employees to manually tally sales, as frequent power cuts disrupt electronic processing. Unlike similar dollar stores that have opened in other provinces, Holguín's new store was launched without any promotional fanfare. "We need to proceed discreetly; we know this causes discomfort among the population," a store employee remarked.

This type of retail outlet is part of the government's strategy to garner foreign currency, while offerings in the national currency remain insufficient. For most citizens, who earn their wages in Cuban pesos, these stores exacerbate social disparities and fail to address the ongoing crisis.