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Mexico City Historic Center Businesses Struggle to Recover Sales Post-Protests
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Mexico City Historic Center Businesses Struggle to Recover Sales Post-Protests

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Businesses in Mexico City's Historic Center have not recovered economically despite the removal of protest blockades and the FIFA Fan Fest.
  • Sales remain significantly down, with some merchants reporting losses of up to 70% compared to previous years, even before the World Cup.
  • Business leaders estimate the economic damage to the area ranges from 800 million to 1.2 billion pesos, and they criticize the government for lacking support programs for affected businesses.

Merchants in Mexico City's Historic Center are struggling to rebound economically, even after the removal of metal barriers and the departure of the National Union of Education Workers (CNTE) protest camp. The area, which experienced significant disruptions, has yet to see a return to pre-blockade business levels.

If there are people, but they come to watch the match, not to buy.

— SergioDescribing low sales despite the presence of people.

Despite the free movement of vehicles and pedestrians and a decrease in street vending, particularly on Tacuba street, businesses report dismal sales. Sergio, whose shop is near the Zócalo and the FIFA Fan Fest, stated his sales are only at 60%, noting that while people are present, they are primarily there for the football matches, not for shopping. Verónica Velasco, a dress shop owner, reported sales down by 70%, worse than the previous year when there was no World Cup.

More people started coming in because the central area is now clear. This (street) is the entrance to the Historic Center, it has been cleared and is clean.

— Verónica VelascoNoting an improvement in foot traffic after the removal of the protest camp.

Gerardo López Becerra, president of ConComercio Pequeño, estimates the total economic damage to businesses in the area to be between 800 million and 1.2 billion pesos. He criticized the local government, stating that there are no support programs for affected businesses, attributing the losses not to poor management but to the government's "terrible management of the conflict" with the CNTE. López Becerra also mentioned that discussions with local authorities have not yielded concrete support, with only a property tax discount offered, which benefits property owners rather than all affected businesses.

It impacted me with a 70% decrease in sales; besides mobility complications for me and my clients. We trust that families will start coming, but it did affect us quite a bit.

— Verónica VelascoDetailing the extent of sales decline and its impact.

Merchants express hope that families will return, but acknowledge the significant impact the disruptions have had. The lack of government assistance leaves businesses to manage their losses through personal savings and loans, highlighting a disconnect between the government's conflict resolution and the economic well-being of local commerce.

The damage to businesses in the area is between 800 million and 1.2 billion pesos, so the productive sector will take time to recover.

— Gerardo López BecerraEstimating the total economic losses.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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