Mall del Alto Opens Late April with H&M, Gap, Old Navy, Go-Karts, and Bowling

Mark your calendars: Mall del Alto is scheduled to open the last week of April 2026, bringing a wave of international retail brands to Cuenca for the first time.

What's Coming

The Go Corp development will feature a mix of international fashion, entertainment, and dining that Cuenca hasn't had before:

Retail

• H&M — First location in Cuenca
• Gap — First location in Cuenca
• Old Navy — First location in Cuenca
• Banana Republic — First location in Cuenca

Entertainment

• Go-kart track
• Bowling alley
• Movie theaters

Additional tenants and food court details haven't been formally announced, but malls of this scale typically include a mix of local and international dining options.

Why This Is a Big Deal

Cuenca's current retail landscape consists primarily of Supermaxi, Coral Hipermercados, Mall del Río, and a handful of smaller shopping centers. International fast-fashion brands have been conspicuously absent — if you wanted H&M or Gap, you were ordering online and dealing with customs, or picking things up on trips to Quito or abroad.

Mall del Alto changes that equation. For expats who've missed the convenience of browsing familiar brands in person, this fills a gap that's been a common quality-of-life complaint.

Location

The mall is located in the El Alto sector on the road toward Azogues, north of the city center. It's accessible from the Autopista Cuenca-Azogues and will likely become a significant traffic destination once open.

What We Don't Know Yet

• Exact opening date — "Last week of April" is the current guidance, but construction timelines in Ecuador are famously flexible
• Full tenant list — Only the anchor international brands have been confirmed
• Pricing — Whether H&M and Gap will price competitively with their US/European stores or add Ecuador markups
• Parking capacity — Not yet disclosed, though Go Corp projects typically include large parking structures

For Expats

The practical impact is straightforward: more shopping options without leaving the city. The entertainment additions—go-karts, bowling, movie theaters—also address a frequent expat observation that Cuenca lacks indoor entertainment options, especially during rainy season.

We'll update when the official opening date is confirmed and the full tenant list drops.

Source: CuencaHighLife