Cuba Launches Military-Run Mega Store in Mariel Operating in U.S. Dollars
The Cuban government opened a new mega store in Mariel, Havana, operated by military-run retail chain Tiendas Caribe that wholesales exclusively in U.S. dollars.
The Cuban government opened a new mega store in Mariel, Havana, operated by military-run retail chain Tiendas Caribe that wholesales exclusively in U.S. dollars.
Cuba’s tourism sector fell nearly 30% in early 2025, deepening the island’s economic crisis. Infrastructure failures, service shortages, and growing instability are driving visitors away, with recovery unlikely before 2030.
Despite importing millions in U.S. food, Cubans are still going hungry. There is a legal trade behind the numbers, and the broken system that keeps store shelves empty.