The Arrecife Zona Centro Association is working on a restructuring plan for the associated businesses on Calle Real to introduce new animation initiatives and activities complementary to commerce.
Likewise, the organization is considering a change in opening hours to stimulate sales and attract cruise passengers.
The commercial opening hours of Calle Real are still on the lips of both citizens and merchants.
With the start of the cruise season that fills the streets of Arrecife with tourists almost every day of the week, many are wondering if the opening hours of the shops in the downtown area of Arrecife are illogical, to say the least.
In addition to the fact that the stores do not open on Saturday afternoons and every Sunday, most businesses close at 2:00 p.m. and reopen at 4:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.
Restructuring project
The Arrecife Zona Centro Association, which brings together 120 businesses in the area, is working on a project to restructure the operation of the businesses, where one of the proposals contemplates extending the opening hours at midday in exchange for reopening a little later.
This was commented yesterday in statements to this newspaper by the secretary of the organization, Eugenio Hernández. Although he acknowledged that he is also a councilor of the Popular Party in the Arrecife City Council that these changes will have to be agreed with the owners of the businesses, who are often reluctant to modify the opening hours, because it would require an increase in the workforce, jeopardizing profitability.
As Hernández explained, this is an initiative that includes "animation activities" in Calle Real in order to relaunch the commercial area.
Commercial opening hours in December
On the other hand, Eugenio Hernández confirmed that the commercial opening hours of the stores on Calle Real for the month of December are practically finalized. The stores in the center of the capital will open their doors to the public every Saturday afternoon during the month of December to increase sales during the Christmas campaign, when consumer frenzy takes over the world.
But also, both December 8, Day of the Immaculate Conception, and Sunday 18, the stores will open throughout the day.
Also on January 7, businesses will open to make the necessary changes at the end of the Christmas campaign and the start of the sales.