A Cuban youtuber visited the store that opened this week in Holguín that operates solely in dollars, the first of its kind in the province.
Katy Catarina, who identifies herself on social media as Aprendedora, wanted to firsthand experience the prices at the Las Maravillas store, part of the Tiendas Caribe chain, where hygiene products, perfumes, cleaning supplies, household items, and baby products are offered.
The young woman only took a ten-dollar bill from her father.
"In this video, I take you with me to a supermarket in Cuba that only accepts U.S. dollars (USD). This is a completely different experience from shopping in local stores that accept Cuban pesos. Extremely high prices: Get ready to be surprised by the prices!" he announced to his followers.
After touring the store, he found that it was well-stocked, but in the end, he didn't decide to buy anything, even though there were things he needed.
"Why didn't I buy anything?" he said, revealing that he was returning home with a $10 bill. "The prices seemed the same as those in MLC; in fact, I think I could buy some products at the mipymes, that is, in Cuban pesos," he stated.
"Therefore, I don't think it's a good investment to spend the dollar, which is a currency that does not lose value; on the other hand, I believe it's better to use the Cuban peso, which unfortunately devalues every day," he specified.
The girl referred to an aspect of these stores that has been most criticized: change in candy. She wanted to buy a hair gel that cost just over a dollar, and of course, she was not willing to buy it and receive candy instead of the appropriate change in cash.
"In summary, what we saw was the same as what was in MLC, but in dollars. And at the same prices, there wasn't much of a difference, so honestly, it was a bit disappointing. Because on top of that, the dollar is more expensive than MLC," he emphasized.
The new store Agua y Jabón in dollars is located on Frexes Street, between Maceo and Mártires, in the same place that previously operated in MLC. It was inaugurated with this payment option on February 18, amidst a power outage.
The schedule is from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, but they are closing an hour earlier to assist workers with the manual tally of sales, as power outages make it impossible to do so with the machines.
The Cuban government continues to strengthen and expand dollar-based commerce throughout the country. Payments can be made in cash or with bank cards in USD, including both international cards and the Classic card offered by the CADECA network.
This type of business is part of the government’s strategy to collect foreign currency, while the supply in national currency remains insufficient.
For the majority of the population, who receive their salaries in Cuban pesos, these stores exacerbate social differences and do not resolve the crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions about the New Dollar Store in Holguín
What products does the new dollar store in Holguín offer?
The dollar store in Holguín, named Las Maravillas, offers hygiene products, perfumes, cleaning supplies, household goods, and baby items. It is part of the Tiendas Caribe chain and was inaugurated on February 18, 2025. This store operates exclusively in dollars, whether in cash or through bank cards in USD.
How does the opening of these dollar stores affect Cubans?
The opening of dollar stores in Cuba increases social and economic inequalities. For the majority of Cubans, who receive their salaries in pesos, it is nearly impossible to access the products that are sold solely in dollars. This creates discontent and criticism towards the government, which aims to attract foreign currency but does not address the shortage of products in the national currency.
Why didn't the Cuban YouTuber Katy Catarina buy anything at the new dollar store?
Katy Catarina did not buy anything at the new dollar store because she believed that the prices were similar to those of the MLC stores. Despite the store being well-stocked, she found the prices to be high and preferred to save the 10-dollar bill she had for other purposes. Additionally, she mentioned that some products could be found in mypimes at prices in Cuban pesos.
What is the Cuban government's strategy with the opening of dollar stores?
The Cuban government seeks to attract foreign currency through the opening of stores that operate exclusively in dollars. This measure is part of a broader strategy to obtain currency that helps sustain the country's economy. However, this policy has been criticized for increasing inequalities and limiting access to basic goods for those who do not have access to dollars.
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