Plaza Las Américas, Inc. is part of a privately owned group of companies in Puerto Rico, with a tradition of quality business enterprises dating back to the late 1800s. The group includes holdings in urban, suburban and rural properties, dairy farming operations, a fresh milk and fruit juices processing and bottling plant (Vaquería Tres Monjitas), a soft-serve premium ice cream retail chain, a plastic container manufacturing plant, three Class-A office buildings, a residential condominium project (Mirador del Parque), a super-regional shopping center in San Juan (Plaza Las Américas) and a regional shopping center in Ponce (Plaza Del Caribe). All together, these companies are significant contributors to the economy of Puerto Rico and are also firm believers and promoters of the education and development of the arts and culture in the Island through the group’s philanthropic organizations.
The most recognized company of the group is Plaza Las Américas, a 1.8 million square-foot shopping center in San Juan, PR. It was opened to the public in 1968 in approximately 70 acres (excluding the peripheral commercial area) located at the intersection of what would eventually be the main east/west and north/south freeways in San Juan. This site is adjacent to the Central Business District, is surrounded on all sides by the greatest demographic concentration of the entire Island and is only 15 minutes away from the port of San Juan, the airport, the Convention Center and most hotels.
In the fall of 2000, Plaza Las Américas completed a $300 million renovation and expansion. With the completion of this project, Plaza Las Américas offers its customers an even wider variety of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences. Plaza Las Américas has more than 300 stores including the only Macy’s in the Caribbean, the largest JCPenney in the chain, a 327,000 square-foot Sears and Sears Brand Central and a 40,000 square-foot Forever 21, among other stores. In addition, the mall also offers a 13-screen movie theater, more than 40 dining alternatives at La Terraza Food Court and other sit-down and full-service restaurants, more than 10,000 parking spaces, new and better accesses to and from the surrounding highway system, 5 valet parking stations, a permanent taxi stand and a Concierge Service Center at the mall’s Grand Court.
