Shops in the Larnaca shopping center continue to battle for survival, with many either closing their doors or relocating to the Metropolis Mall.
The situation on Ermou Street, is indicative, as one shop after another shuts down, leaving more vacancies than active businesses.
Nevertheless, the remaining store owners are not giving up and are planning joint initiatives with “Larnaca 2030,” which is currently vying for the city’s candidacy as the “European Capital of Culture” to attract more visitors.
The first action announced by the Shop Owners’ Association pertains to a competition for the best Christmas window display among the shops in the shopping center.
Winners will receive awards at an event to be held in Zuhouri Square, benefiting from exposure provided by the Shop Owners’ Association and “Larnaca 2030.”
“This is the first time we are organizing a window display competition in the shopping center. We took this initiative in collaboration with Larnaca 2030, which will continue with various events and joint actions to be announced shortly,” stated Dimitris Dimitriou, the president of the Larnaca Shopping Center.
According to Mr. Dimitriou, the current foot traffic in the shopping center is on par with last year.
“The positive aspect is that we still have tourism. These are returning tourists who constantly visit our city. The Christmas shopping rush has not started yet; people are waiting for Black Friday. Some stores are experiencing increased traffic, while others are not.”
Despite the recent increase in foot traffic in the shopping center due to events, the stores did not benefit as much, unlike the dining establishments, most of which are packed.
“Fortunately, locals have returned to the Ermou Square area, where there are cafes and restaurants because the traffic was very low during the summer. Now, it’s hard to find an empty table. The Larnaca Biennale and the Moon Museum in Zuhouri Square have helped with this by attracting people from other cities. However, dining establishments have benefited more. Nevertheless, it’s positive that people are coming to the shopping center. We want everyone to thrive in the area.”
Hope for the area lies in the major projects scheduled to commence in the region in 2024, involving the redevelopment of Alkis and Acropolis Squares and the paving of the entire shopping center.
However, there is concern that some businesses may not survive until the projects are completed in 2026.
“We are concerned about store closures, which present an unfavorable image for our city. Only half of Ermou Street is operational because, now, there are stores in only half of it. High rents are not helping either. Some are unwilling to lower their rents, and there are stores that have been vacant for seven years. We are also concerned that there will be construction work for 24 months to revamp the shopping center.”
Expressing hope that the given timelines will be adhered to, Mr. Dimitriou mentioned that promises have been made by the Larnaca Municipality to ensure access to the stores during the construction work. “We believe that the redevelopment will help, but we will face difficulties until the projects are completed. However, we know that without some inconvenience, the projects cannot be carried out.”
