Reopening of Dollar Store in Villa Clara Sparks Outrage: "It Was Empty, Now Shelves Are Full"

The reopening of the Variedades Siboney store in Villa Clara, now operating under a dollar-based sales model, has sparked a storm of criticism on social media. Users have expressed their disapproval, noting that after being empty for a long time, the store suddenly reopened fully stocked but exclusively selling to those with dollars.

The announcement, made by the Tiendas CARIBE Villa Clara Facebook page, outlined that the store will offer hygiene products, food, beverages, cleaning supplies, household items, and appliances, accepting only VISA, MasterCard, MIR, and Bandec prepaid cards for payment.

This revelation has ignited anger among local residents, who accuse the regime of prioritizing individuals with access to foreign currencies like dollars or euros. Maydelis Menéndez Gómez, a user, described the reopening as "a complete disrespect," recalling that just days ago, the store was nearly empty, and now, "boom, products appeared for those with dollars." She sarcastically mentioned the practice of giving change in candies and criticized the official narrative regarding the economic situation: "I won't forget this is temporary!!! And well, we are continuity... of misery."

Another user, Maidelys Rojas de la Paz, voiced her frustration over the reopening, highlighting the discrepancy between the scarcity in former MLC stores and the sudden abundance in this new format: "Honestly speechless, and other stores that used to operate in MLC have nothing, not even air conditioning for workers, yet this one does," she commented, questioning the resource allocation.

She also criticized the MLC card recharge system, pointing out that customers can only deposit one dollar with a five USD minimum recharge, forcing reliance on money from abroad. "Nothing, folks, we're progressing, and it bothers them. Go ahead, get the card, 5 USD, and they give you just one dollar, and from there, you have to fill it from abroad," she joked, reflecting the frustration many Cubans feel about needing remittances to access basic goods.

Yahimy Rodríguez Nápoles also reacted sarcastically to the reopening of the MLC store, noting the increasing dollarization in Cuba: "USD season open! But don't worry, dollarization is partial!" she wrote, referencing government promises that the use of dollars wouldn't be widespread. She further mocked the inconsistency in the regime's economic measures, recalling initial assurances that not all CUC stores would convert to MLC, yet reality has shown otherwise. "It's the second season of the series," she remarked, comparing the current situation to the gradual disappearance of the convertible peso (CUC) and the growing exclusion of those without access to foreign currency.

The Altahabana Shopping Center, part of the state-run Tiendas Caribe chain, has reopened under a new sales model: exclusively in dollars. This move aligns with the Cuban government's recent trend of expanding stores that operate solely in foreign currencies. In January 2025, the 3rd and 70th Supermarket became the first to implement this payment method, drawing criticism as most Cubans earn salaries in pesos and lack access to these currencies.

Recently, the Cuban government inaugurated a new dollar-based market in the center of the country, following the same strategy. These establishments are well-stocked, while stores selling in Cuban pesos face shortages, causing public discontent. Additionally, the Ministry of Domestic Trade has pushed for more dollar stores, claiming they aim to attract foreign currency to supply the country. However, economists warn that this deepens inequality and restricts most Cubans' access to essential products.

Economist Pedro Monreal has commented that the partial dollarization in Cuba creates an economic divide, excluding those without access to foreign currency, exacerbating the crisis without addressing the economy's structural problems.