Why did Americanas close a store in a shopping center in Zaffari?

Patricia Comunello and Paula Soria

A novelty in one of the shopping centers of the Zaffari group in Porto Alegre aroused attention and, of course, questions. The Americanas branch at Moinhos Shopping, in an upper-middle-class neighborhood in the capital, is closed.

Located on the first level of the development, the branch is considered one of the biggest flow generators in the mall itself. On the downloaded screen, a poster only indicated that “we will temporarily close for service”. The date was from Tuesday (February 28).

The column Retail Minute called the telephone number provided on the poster in search of information. Despite being a cell phone with area code from Maranhão, the service was handled by the management of the local unit.

According to the source, the store is not working because it will undergo a small renovation for “improvements”. The reopening forecast is within a few days, but the date will depend on the progress of the provider’s work, informed the management. Employees would be doing services inside the point.

The column requested more information from the management of Americanas and also from the Zaffari group, owner of the development.

The brand’s operations in malls and streets are maintained in the Capital and countryside. In the RJ process, the network communicated that it might not pay part of the rent.

In shopping centers, such as the Gravataí mall, in the RMPA, operations are normal, says the enterprise. João Pessoa, in Porto Alegre, does not comment on the situation.