HAVANA – It's a Marxists' nightmare. In a city where salaries last year averaged under $30 a month, tourists will be able to find Bvlgari watches worth about $10,000.
This is after the Cuban government allowed the opening of the first luxury shopping mall in Havana since the 1959 Revolution. The Communist government, which relies heavily on the tourism industry, is adapting to the needs of the elite tourist from the U.S., Europe, China and Japan.
The historic five-story building known as the Manzana de Gómez on the boulevard Prado, where Karl Lagerfeld held his open-air Chanel Resort's 2017 fashion show last year, is the home of the new high-end shopping complex.
The restored colonial building is also where Kempinski hoteliers are getting ready to open a five-star hotel in June. The first floor is full of spotless glass windows showcasing European fashion, jewelry and electronics. Shoppers will find Canon, Mont Blanc, Gucci, Armani Jeans, Versace, Lacoste and L'Occitane.
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