Business View Caribbean - January 2016 93
and out to Cupecoy Beach to the Blue Mall is not on
the itinerary. Paul agrees: “Cruise tourism is a goal of
ours, but the growth is not as quick as we hoped.”
Another problem for Blue Mall has been its equally slow
acceptance by the island’s residents. “The locals are
our steadier customer base – they’re always there,”
explains Paul. “They’re the ones that we want to work
with the most; they’re the ones we market towards the
most. But people are usually scared by how the build-
ing looks and they think that
it’s only for the luxury people.
We’re slowly getting them to
understand that it is open to
everyone; there is something
for everyone. I want them to
know that they can come here
and pretty much get every-
thing they want and have a
great experience. It is a place
to be.”
Paul remains convinced that,
over time, the notion of shop-
ping, and living, at Blue Mall
will become more and more
common. To date, not all store
spaces are filled and not all of
its 37 condos have been sold.
A few units belong to foreign
owners who keep them as
vacation homes, while other
owners are investors who
have purchased them for use
as vacation rental properties.
“And we still own a few of them
which we manage as rentals,”
Paul adds.
Regardless of the challenges,
Paul believes that Blue Mall’s
better days still lie ahead. “I’m an optimistic person,”
she declares. “In five years, I will have all the apartments
sold; I will have all my spaces filled with all the services
and facilities that we need to go in the direction that we
want to go. A couple of things that we have in the pipe-
line: there will be a very nice conference center here and
we’re also looking at a dance studio. And my job will just
be to sustain and manage – the hardest part would be
over. It’s what we’re working towards.”
