Over 50 shopping malls reopened in Medellín with thousands of shops reopened in the city starting on June 1. Also, El Hueco in El Centro is open.
After a pilot of opening three malls in Medellín (Oviedo, Gran Plaza and La Frontera Mall) starting on May 25, over 50 malls in Medellín reopened on June 1.
Many of the malls in Medellín have remained partially open during the nationwide quarantine in Colombia, as grocery stores, pharmacies and banks are permitted to be open during the quarantine.
The over 50 malls that reopened yesterday in Medellín are more full-blown reopening of these malls and permit most shops to open. Also, the food courts and restaurants are open for table service.
Opening malls is part of Medellín starting to lift the quarantine on June 1 and entering a “Smart Isolation” phase of the quarantine.
Viva Envigado Mall in Envigado has reopened, the largest mall in Colombia
The 14 Best Malls in Medellín Have All Reopened
We previously wrote about the 14 best malls in Medellín and we confirmed that all 14 of these malls have reopened.
- Viva Envigado – one of the newest malls in the Aburrá Valley located in Envigado, which is reportedly the largest mall in Colombia
- Santafé – one of the largest malls in Medellín located in El Poblado
- Mayorca Mega Plaza – a popular mall in Sabaneta with several outlet shops
- El Tesoro – Medellín’s popular mall with a view in El Poblado
- Premium Plaza – one of Medellín’s largest shopping malls with entertainment on the third floor
- Puerta del Norte – the largest and most popular mall in Bello
- Arkadia – the newest mall in Medellín and the nicest mall in Belén
- Los Molinos – the oldest Western-style mall in Belén
- Oviedo – the oldest mall in El Poblado.
- San Diego – the oldest mall in Medellín.
- Unicentro – the largest and most popular mall in Laureles-Estadio
- Monterrey – Medellín’s technology mall in El Poblado
- Florida Parque – the only Western-style mall in the Robledo comuna in Medellín
- La Central – the only Western-style mall in the Buenos Aires comuna in Medellín
Santafé mall in El Poblado has reopened
The following table includes details for each of the 14 best malls in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley, including the neighborhood (comuna or municipality) where the mall is located, approximately how many stores and the nearest metro station if the mall is conveniently located within about a five-minute walk from a metro station.
14 Best Malls in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
In the above table, we include the anchor grocery store, movie theater and gym (not every mall has all of these) and also other major stores for the best malls in the Medellín metro area.
The best malls in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley all have a big selection of shops, fast-food and restaurants and grocery stores and more.
El Hueco: the Cheapest Shopping Area in Medellín
El Hueco in El Centro Also Reopened
In addition, we confirmed the El Hueco in El Centro has reopened. El Hueco is an area of El Centro in Medellín that is full of thousands of small shops of all types with good prices. This is an area of Medellín where you can find the cheapest prices for almost anything.
El Hueco is an area with a mix of small shopping malls, standalone shops as well as street vendors. This is a big area with reportedly over 80 small centro comercials (shopping centers) filled with thousands of small shops.
However, not all the shopping centers and stores are open in El Hueco but many opened on Monday.
What About Other Malls and Retail Stores
According to Medellín Mayor Quintero, all shopping malls in Medellín that have approved biosafety protocols and have been visited by the Ministry of Health will be permitted to open. And if they have not been visited, they should request this at the mayor’s office.
Regarding other retail shops in Medellín not located in malls, the Medellín Mayor said that a pilot will be conducted to open more businesses and they expect to permit opening all types of retail shops in Medellín on Monday, June 8. And by September almost every shop in the metro area had reopened.
Biosafety Measures for Malls
When the malls first reopened, your ID was be checked for Pico y Cedula at all malls. And some of the malls used a technology pilot used in the first three shopping malls that reopened in Medellín.
To use this technology you had be registered in MedellínMeCuida, install the CoronApp on your cell phone and activate Bluetooth to enter a mall.
But Pico y Cedula has ended and malls no longer check for CoornApp. Malls require that you wear a face mask and your temperature will be checked. And most malls will have hand sanitizer available.
Shopping Malls Reopen in Medellín
The Bottom Line: Shopping Malls Reopen in Medellín, Thousands of Shops Reopen
Tens of thousands of shops in Medellín have been closed during the quarantine in Medellín. And most of the shops in the malls in Medellín have been closed during the quarantine.
With the reopening of shopping malls in Medellín, thousands of shops can reopen and a huge number of employees can return to work.
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Editors note: updated on October 10, 2020 with information that the only biosafety measures used at malls now include checking your temperature and requiring using a face mask.
