The Algarve regional trade association, ACRAL, is requesting a meeting with the management of the Spanish group Inditex to request explanations about the closure of the Zara and Pull & Bear stores in Faro’s premier shopping street,
"These are two anchor stores, essential to the dynamism of local commerce in the downtown area," the association's president Álvaro Viegas said, lamenting the closures which he says are linked to the opening of Mar Shopping near Loulé.
According to the Viegas, it is no surprise that Inditex has pulled out of Faro to concentrate on the new shopping centres as ACRAL has been warning this would happen for at least 18 months.
As no formal explanation was issued by Inditex, ACRAL decided to request a meeting with the company's management which may or may not be interested in discussing the matter.
Bruno Lage, president of the parish covering the Faro shopping street said the decision of lamentable, but hopes the closures won’t happen.
"It would be a serious blow to the commercial dynamics of downtown Faro, which in recent years has, with the help of all, committed to revitalising this area of the city and has achieved frankly encouraging results, with a greater number of visitors as well as an increase in turnover along with traditional trade," said Lage, adding that Faro "has given a lot to the Inditex group" and that this symbiosis "is, undoubtedly, an added value that must be maintained."
