Mall del Alto Opens Late April — H&M, Gap, Old Navy, and 250 Stores Coming to Cuenca

Cuenca's Biggest-Ever Retail Development

The wait is almost over. Mall del Alto — the massive shopping center across the highway from Mall del Río — is scheduled to open in the last week of April 2026, according to GO Corp CEO José Patricio Ortiz.

Here are the numbers: 117,000 square meters of construction on 16 hectares. 250 stores and kiosks. Over $50 million in investment. And perhaps most importantly for anyone who's ever muttered "why can't I find that brand in Cuenca?" — 70% of the stores are brands not currently available in the city.

The Brands

This is what's going to get people talking:

• H&M — 3,000 square meters, the largest individual store in the mall. First H&M in Cuenca
• Gap
• Old Navy
• Banana Republic
• Calvin Klein
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Adolfo Domínguez (Spanish luxury)
• Purificación García (designer handbags)
• Coral Hipermercado (anchor grocery store)

If you've been making Quito or Guayaquil shopping trips — or loading up suitcases on trips back to the States — for these brands, those days may be numbered.

Beyond Shopping

Mall del Alto isn't just retail. The entertainment and dining lineup includes:

• Electric go-kart track — 260 meters, indoor
• Immersive augmented-reality bowling
• Modern cinema
• Indoor playground
• Gym
• Traditional food court plus a gourmet terrace zone with city views

Where Is It?

Directly across the Cuenca-Azogues highway from Mall del Río, on 16 hectares of land. A pedestrian bridge will connect Mall del Alto to the Four Points by Sheraton hotel, Mall del Río, and a convention center — creating what the developer calls "Ciudad del Río," a retail-hotel-events district.

The Green Angle

The mall will run partly on 15,000+ solar panels and features rainwater collection for restrooms and irrigation. Whether you consider that meaningful sustainability or greenwashing on a 117,000-sqm shopping center is your call — but at least it's there.

Jobs and Economic Impact

GO Corp estimates approximately 1,500 direct jobs once the mall is fully operational. For a city Cuenca's size, that's significant. The 250 stores are 98% pre-leased, suggesting strong retailer confidence in the market.

What This Means for You

For everyday shopping: You'll have dramatically more options without leaving the city. H&M alone fills a gap that expats have complained about for years.

For Mall del Río: Competition is coming. Expect both malls to run promotions, improve services, and fight for foot traffic. That's good for shoppers.

For traffic: The Cuenca-Azogues highway corridor is already congested. Adding a 250-store mall across from an existing 200+ store mall is going to create serious traffic during peak hours and weekends. Plan accordingly.

Opening timeline: Late April 2026 is the target. Some sources say May. Either way, expect a phased opening — not all 250 stores will be ready on day one.

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Sources: Primicias, El Mercurio, The Cuenca Dispatch