José Juan Ayala Vázquez,, president of the Centro Histórico Commerce Council, acknowledged that the area has become chaotic for large-scale operations and customer traffic.
- Reason: Poor traffic conditions, especially for loading and unloading goods, have forced 200 wholesale businesses to relocate to Puebla’s Central de Abastos or the Tlaxcala border in just five years.
- Impact of Covid-19: During the pandemic, around 1,000 businesses closed for nine months, exacerbating the situation.
- Current Situation: Retail stores see better activity, but high rents are a challenge. Only three out of seven local businesses are owned by their proprietors.
- Restrictions: The municipal government has banned large trucks from unloading goods in the center, making it difficult for wholesale operations.
Future Outlook: Ayala Vázquez predicts that over the next 20 years, the Historic Center could see fewer shops and more tourism-related businesses. The opening of 300 commercial plazas in the past 15 years has also contributed to the exodus of retailers from this area.
Call to Action: Ayala Vázquez urges municipal authorities to address the decline, as it affects economic output and job creation in Puebla’s Historic Center.
