So, Mexico's famous department store Liverpool opened a shiny new location in Playa del Carmen and while I am not much of a shopper, I still had to check it out! We have been to Liverpool in Cancun many times to make some purchases of good quality housewares unavailable in Playa del Carmen. While the prices are unarguably very high, when you really need something, it was nice to know you could most likely find it at Liverpool, even if it meant paying a premium to get it. Now that we have our own Liverpool, I fear my wallet is going to suffer. :)
This week is Cat's birthday so, of course, I was off to Liverpool to see what I could find. For the most part, we buy all of our clothes in the US on our yearly pilgrimage to the northeast, but every once in awhile, I find myself in need of a special outfit or dress for Cat. Thus far, my shopping efforts in Playa have been less than satisfactory so it is a nice change to have some good quality clothing lines to choose from. Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what you can expect to find!
Upon entry, you find the candy and confections area. By far this is the best part of the whole store. I have never seen such a fabulous selection anywhere in Playa or Cancun.
Moving to the right of the confectionery department is the book section. It is small with a limited selection of magazines and books, Spanish only. A few well known authors and translations but I had never seen or heard of most of the titles.
Also on the ground floor is the watch section. They had a fairly good selection of overpriced name brand time pieces.
A small but serviceable jewelry section where I bought several small, very affordable sets of earrings for Cat.
The women's clothing and accessories are all located on the ground floor. I didn't take much time to look through it all but at least I know where I can find formalware and a gown that does not look like it was made for a quincenera.
The make up and fragrances section was bright and shiny and well stocked with all the excellent brand names you would expect to find...Clinique, Chanel etc.
The store has a very nice selection of up market men's clothes including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and one of my favorites Sciappino. They also showed a nice section of suits, sport coats, dress shirts and ties. Now if only we can get Playa men to wear them.
Upstairs...or rather up escalator...we find the children's departments, electronics, luggage and probably the reason most people shop at Liverpool, housewares.
I found some things I really like.
And some things I could live without.
There is a nice selection of linens and towels but don't look for Target prices.
The children's clothes department was very nice and, as expected, overpriced. That being said, if I need a nice, high quality outfit for my kids for a special occasion, I will be very happy to have this option at my fingertips. Cat has a special event coming up next week and I was able to find her a lovely dress from Ralph Lauren for a price that did not offend me.
Do I want to pay these prices for everyday play clothes? No.
Am I happy to know I can dress my children appropriately if I need to. Sure thing!
The baby department was small and limited and I didn't see much more than have already seen in Playa's existing retail market.
The toy department was disappointing and again, I felt like I was seeing the same products that we can find in Meg, Soriana and Chedraui.
Meh.
There is a musical instruments area with guitars, electric and acoustic, some drums and keyboards. I am certain that serious musicians will still want to trust their purchases to Gonzalez on Constituyentes for their selection and expertise.
The optical department looks very good with an excellent selection and I will heading their the next time I need frames and lenses.
Luggage. Pricey and limited.
Of course, the store was all decked out for Christmas and had set up a holiday area with all kinds of ornaments and decorations. Some you can easily find in Soriana. Others were more unique.
So, am I still excited about Liverpool coming to Playa del Carmen? You bet. Will I be back in there for my everyday shopping needs? Probably not but I will definitely be there to find nice hostess gifts, birthday presents and special clothing purchases. I have not tried the restaurant yet so I will have to return for that reason alone! There's a lot of open land for future development around this stand-alone Liverpool location and it would be great if this could be an anchor store for a more upscale mall will more upmarket shops. The location, close to Playacar and the tourist zone can definitely support this level of retail and would be a great compliment to this city. I've got my fingers crossed for Zara and Massimo Dutti in particular! What brands would you like to see drawn to Playa del Carmen?
I moved to Mexico with my family in 2004 with the hope of offering our children a more global education and world view. Since then, we have traveled through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, gathering friends and life experiences and learning a lot about ourselves along the way. When we are not out and about exploring, Rob and I own and operate BuyPlaya, a Playa del Carmen real estate company and FurnitureMex. "Life's a Beach" is a catch-all blog where you may find anything from restaurant reviews, to recipes, gardening tips, commentary about expat daily life, local events, information about moving to Mexico and educating children in Playa del Carmen. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.