"They told me it was like Walmart": Cuban expresses her disappointment after visiting the new Supermercado 3ra y 70

A well-known Cuban YouTuber visited the newly opened Supermercado 3ra y 70, located in Miramar, Playa, hoping to find a wide variety of products. However, the influencer confessed to feeling disappointed, noting that the establishment was far from resembling a Walmart, as she had been told.

In a video on her YouTube channel, Rosy Wanderlust shared her critiques and reflections on the store, which operates exclusively in dollars and targets an audience with economic means or assistance from abroad.

The young woman began her story by commenting on the time it took her to reach the supermarket, located in one of the most exclusive areas of Havana: “They couldn't open this market in the middle of El Cerro; it had to be in Playa,” she noted with irony, emphasizing the contrast between the location and the economic reality of most Cubans.

Upon arriving at the location, he noted the large turnout of people despite how late it was and the fact that the store was about to close: “So that they don’t say later that there are no dollars in Cuba, look at the number of people here.”

Inside the store, the YouTuber observed the available products and noted the limited variety offered by the supermarket.

According to her, there was only one type of each item, from toilet paper and detergents to descalers and soft drinks, which led her to negatively compare the store to a Walmart, describing it as a version similar to the usual ones in MLC, although with temporarily fuller shelves due to its recent opening.

Although he found items that are not usually available in other stores, such as apples and imported cleaning products, he criticized that these were beyond the financial reach of the average Cuban.

The comparison to the famous U.S. market was one of the highlights of her critique: “I was told this was like a Walmart, and I feel cheated because it has nothing to do with that. There are no deals, no promotions, no variety. It's the same old stuff, only now it's new and priced in dollars,” she stated with evident frustration.

He also reflected on prices compared to salaries in Cuba: “The average Cuban earns about 2,000 or 3,000 pesos a month, which is 10 dollars. A package of detergent here costs five dollars, so?” he questioned.

For her, the store is inaccessible to those who do not receive remittances or aid from abroad, something that became clear when she mentioned that many of those present were making video calls to relatives overseas to show them the products.

He also noticed that customers were taking large amounts of products, quickly clearing the shelves: “Let’s see how long it stays full. This opened on December 30, and it’s already half empty,” he commented, anticipating that it will soon become just another store with the usual supply problems.

In her video, in addition to the lines to pay at the checkout, the influencer showed the huge queue to obtain the Clásica card, which is the new "invention" promoted by the Cuban regime for shopping in stores.

"They need to come prepared. This isn’t Walmart or Costco; this is still Cuba," emphasized the young woman, who noted that due to the delays, many customers leave the lines and abandon their shopping carts.

Upon leaving the supermarket, Rosy commented on the MLC store located right across the street, pointing out the differences in quantity and variety of products, although she noted that the prices there were somewhat more accessible: “This is still Cuba. One should not get confused or be deceived by the allure of something new.”

The video by Rosy Wanderlust, filled with reflections and critiques, has resonated among her followers and other social media users, who have also questioned the usefulness of such markets in a context of profound economic crisis for the majority of Cubans.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Supermarket 3ra y 70 in Havana