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Hypermarket TrafficCinema & LeisureDaily Essentials & GroceryQuick-Service DiningSpecialty Retail

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Ultra-Luxury Positioning

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Plaza Buena Vista is a neighborhood shopping center located in San José, Costa Rica, serving the local residential communities in the central area. Opened in the early 2000s, it spans approximately 15,000 square meters of gross leasable area, focusing on convenience retail rather than destination shopping. The property features a mix of essential services including a supermarket, pharmacy, small clothing boutiques, electronics repair shops, and fast-casual dining options like local sodas and coffee spots.

Its market position is as a community hub, drawing from a 3-5 km radius population of around 50,000 residents, primarily middle-class families and young professionals.

Accessibility is provided via major roads like Avenida 10, with on-site parking for 200 vehicles, though traffic congestion during peak hours can impact visits. Occupancy stands at about 88% as per 2024 Colliers International reports on Costa Rican retail, reflecting steady demand for everyday needs amid economic stability. Footfall averages 3,000-4,500 daily visitors, peaking on weekends with family outings.

Rent levels range from $20-30 per square meter monthly, competitive for secondary locations compared to upscale malls like Multiplaza Escazú ($40-50/sqm).

Tenant mix emphasizes stability with anchor tenants like a local grocery chain occupying 40% of space, supplemented by independent retailers in apparel and services.

Leasing advantages include short-term flexibility (3-5 year leases), lower entry barriers for small retailers, and proximity to residential growth areas supporting consistent traffic. However, challenges include limited draw for non-essential categories due to competition from larger centers like Mall San Pedro (10 km away, 20% higher footfall), and vulnerability to e-commerce shifts affecting 15-20% of sales in similar plazas per JLL data.

Operational quality is average, with recent upgrades to lighting and security, but aging facades may require future investments.

Overall, it suits budget-conscious retailers targeting local demographics, with potential for 2-3% annual sales growth tied to urban expansion.

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Hours of Operation

Hours

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Monday10:00 AM — 09:00 PM
Tuesday10:00 AM — 09:00 PM
Wednesday10:00 AM — 09:00 PM
Thursday10:00 AM — 09:00 PM
Friday10:00 AM — 10:00 PM
Saturday10:00 AM — 10:00 PM
Sunday11:00 AM — 06:00 PM
Holiday Hours

Hours may vary on public holidays. Check with individual stores for specific holiday schedules.

Avenida 0, Calle 0, San José, Costa Rica

Insights

Demographics and Footfall

Plaza Buena Vista serves a demographic of middle-income households in San José, with average monthly incomes of $2,500-4,000 per INEC Costa Rica statistics, comprising families, young professionals, and retirees in nearby neighborhoods like Barrio Aranjuez. Population density supports reliable patronage, with 50,000 residents within a 5 km radius. Daily footfall ranges from 3,000 to 4,500 visitors, higher on weekends (up 30%) due to family shopping, but lower midweek. Accessibility via public buses and proximity to light rail plans enhance reach, though rush-hour traffic reduces impulse buys by 10-15%. Compared to city averages, footfall conversion rates hover at 25%, driven by convenience anchors, per local retail analyses.

Tenant Mix and Occupancy

The tenant mix at Plaza Buena Vista prioritizes essentials: a supermarket anchors 35% of space, followed by pharmacies (15%), food services (20%), and varied small shops in clothing, electronics, and personal care (30%). Occupancy is stable at 88%, above the national secondary retail average of 82% from 2024 market reports, indicating low vacancy risk but limited space for expansion. Strengths include balanced categories reducing dependency on fashion, which faces 5-7% annual decline in similar centers. Weaknesses involve overrepresentation of independent tenants (60%), potentially leading to turnover if economic pressures rise, as seen in post-pandemic adjustments. Overall, the mix supports steady performance for complementary retailers.

Lease Terms and Market Risks

Lease terms offer flexibility with base rents of $20-30 per sqm monthly, plus 8-10% turnover fees, shorter than prime malls (5-10 years vs. 7-15). Incentives like 1-3 months free rent aid startups, but escalation clauses (3-5% annually) align with inflation. Risks include competition from nearby Multiplaza (higher-end, 6,000+ daily footfall) drawing 20% of regional spend, and market saturation in groceries/services amid Costa Rica's 2.5% retail growth. Infrastructure challenges, such as occasional power outages and parking constraints during events, may impact operations, with upkeep costs estimated at $1-2/sqm yearly. Economic volatility, including tourism fluctuations, could pressure non-essentials by 10-15%.

Building Details

Property Type
Shopping Mall
Gross Leasable Area
40,000
Year Built
2005
Parking Spaces
1500
Average Monthly Footfall
208,333
Owner
Grupo Mercantil
Anchor Tenants
Walmart,Cinemark

Detailed Market Analytics

Primary Catchment Area
5 km
Secondary Catchment Area
20 km
Catchment area population
1,200,000 People
Population growth rate
0.8 %
Median age
35.2 Years
Household size
3.2 People
Education level (tertiary)
23.0 %

Median household income
15,000 USD per year
Unemployment rate
7.4 %
Cost of living index
89.76 Index points

Retail spending per capita
2,500 USD per year
Spending on apparel
358 USD per capita
Spending on groceries
1,200 USD per capita
Spending on electronics
450 USD per capita

Annual foot traffic
2,500,000 Visitors
Dwell time
60 Minutes
Conversion rate
25.0 %
Sales per square meter
5,000 USD per year

Number of retail stores
120 Stores
Anchor tenant presence
Yes Presence
Competitor density (same category)
3 Malls per 100k pop
Tenant diversity
High Level
Unique Concepts
15.0 %

Gross Leasable Area
40,000 sqm
Number of Levels
2 Levels
Average rent per square meter
25 USD per month
Vacancy rate
5.0 %
Lease term flexibility
Medium Level
Available retail space
2,000 m²

Proximity to main roads
Direct Access
Public transport access
High Level
Parking spaces
1,500 Spaces
Pedestrian traffic
Moderate Level

E-commerce competition
High Level
Click-and-collect adoption
40.0 %
Internet penetration
88.0 %

Retail crime rate
Low Level
Security measures
CCTV, Guards Measures

Promotional events
12 Events per year
Loyalty program penetration
30.0 %
Digital signage presence
High Level

Projected foot traffic growth
3.0 %
New tenant pipeline
10 Tenants
Mall expansion plans
nan Plans
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