Sa Tanca. A wide variety of outlets designed to be attractive to people of all ages

Sa Tanca. A wide variety of outlets designed to be attractive to people of all ages

C.M.W.Maó14/02/11 0:00
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In spite of the current economic situation on the island, both big brand names and major chains are showing interest in opening outlets in Menorca, presumably confident that it will be worth their while financially.

Sa Tanca

Riofisa, the company responsible for running the new commercial centre on the outskirts of Sant Lluís, is negotiating with national chains, in both the food and fashion sectors, to open in Sa Tanca, either directly or by way of a franchise. Company Director Juan de Mena says that it is too early to give names but "they are very interested in Menorca".

The company aims to attract all ages to Sa Tanca by offering a wide variety of outlets, including a supermarket belonging to a major national chain, an electrical appliance shop, and services such as a cobblers or photo developing, plus a sports shop and stores selling clothes, shoes and accessories for all ages. There will also be restaurants offering traditional dishes and fast-food.

Lidl

The German 'hard discount' supermarket chain, Lidl, has also shown confidence in Menorca by opening a branch in Maó, in addition to their outlet in Ciutadella which opened in November 2007.

The finishing touches are now being added to the interior and the car park and entrance to the new store on the Maó industrial estate, situated next to Dia supermarket, which is scheduled to open during the first week in March.

Intersport

The sports group Intersport plans to open a store on the premises formerly occupied by the Minyprix supermarket in Camí de Ses Rodees on the Maó industrial estate. The head of Intersport, David Torres, confirmed last week that the group had already applied to Maó Council for permission to open, which will have to be approved by the Balearic Government due to the size of the premsies.

The group closed one of its seven outlets (that in the Portal de Mar) last month with a view to reorganising its commercial network and opening a store on the Maó industrial estate. However, Torres states that this does not mean that all the shops will be closed in favour of a centralised sales point on the former Minyprix site. Intersport currrently has three outlets in Maó (one on the polígono, another in Abu Umar and a third in Avenida Menorca), plus one in Es Mercadal and two more in Ciutadella.

Torres was unable to give a date for the opening of the new store as the project is awaiting regional approval.

Mercadona

As reported in these pages two weeks ago, the supermarket chain Mercadona, which has stores throughout Spain, is also to open on the island and has applied to the Balearic Government for a commercial licence to open its first store on the island, next to the Ocimax leisure centre in the Cós de Gràcia in Maó.