Wednesday, October 28- November 3, 2020 - // no. 079
Puerto Rico and the Caribbean
www.theweeklyjournal.com
Final Sprint for La Fortaleza Race P6 Arts Management Gets a Boost P7 Oriental Bank’s Positive Outlook P8
SHOPPING MALLS BRACING FOR
THE COVID HOLIDAY SEASON The new normal means different alternatives for shoppers
T
Giovanna Garofalo
Focus on ACTIVE Aging P13
ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com
@giopgarofalo
he new reality of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted shopping malls and retailers to adapt to new consumer behaviors and needs while adopting health protocols to mitigate the risk of infection. With the holiday season approaching, these establishments are eager to boost sales by providing different options to customers that also ensure their safety.
Adolfo González, president of Empresas Caparra — which manages San Patricio Plaza and Galería San Patricio, among others — and the Puerto Rican Shopping Centers Association (ACCP by its Spanish initials), discussed with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL the industry’s expectations for the holiday season, differences in customer behavior and shopping alternatives that will prevail in a post-pandemic world. “One of the things that we did as soon as [the pandemic] began was issue highly strict hygiene GO TO PAGE 4