Despite the challenging economic situation facing retailers who depend on Brazilian business at this time, the massive 33,000sqm Melancia Mall opened for business in Uruguay on Thursday, Nov. 5.
The complex, located in the border town of Rivera in Northern Uruguay, is adjacent to the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. It is the only shopping center its kind in this region.
Grupo WISA’s La Riviera mega-store
The Mall is the home of two of the newest duty free stores in the Americas: Neutral and La Riviera (Wisa Group), both of which inaugurated 4,000sqmduty free mega- shops on Thursday. These will be the key attraction for Brazilian visitors.
Melancia also includes 60 duty paid stores and food outlets specifically designed to attract Brazilian shoppers. Developer Grupo Marchesano invested US$42 million to develop the mall with a further US$28 million invested by retailers to fit out the stores.
The Neutral mega-store
Highlights of Neutral’s mega-store include Gap, Lacoste, Nike and Tommy Hilfiger shop-in-shops, as well as a color treatment service from Dior and a Kerastase Hair salon area, a Diageo bar and an extensive section for gourmet food.
Highlights from the Neutral anchor store in Melancia, which will provide a unique shopping experience in the region.
Grupo Wisa’s new 4,000sqm La Riviera mega-store at Melancia Mall.
