Shops at Caguas
Enclosed shopping mall in Caguas, Puerto Rico, formerly known as Las Catalinas Mall.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Shops at Caguas, stylized as Shops@Caguas, is an enclosed shopping mall in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The property opened on December 4, 1997, after being developed by Manley Berenson and Yebba Realty Ventures. It was originally conceived as Caguas Centrum while under construction and was renamed Las Catalinas before opening. The earlier name referred to Hacienda Santa Catalina, a nineteenth-century sugar plantation that occupied the site. The estate was associated with sugar production, rum making, and the cultivation of fruit, giving the shopping center a name connected to the area's agricultural history. At opening, Las Catalinas contained approximately 80 stores, 3,000 parking spaces, a food court known as El Trapiche, and two major department-store anchors: a Kmart Super Center and Sears. Its tenant mix quickly expanded. By 2000, the center had more than 100 tenants, combining national American chains, Puerto Rican food and service businesses, restaurants, specialty retailers, and entertainment uses. The mall was designed to serve nearby communities but developed into a broader regional destination because of its range of stores and dining options. Ownership consolidated during the center's first decade. In 1997, Vornado Realty Trust acquired Kmart's 50 percent interest in the developing property. In 1998, Vornado completed a transaction that gave it a controlling position in the mall and a majority interest in the Kmart anchor. In September 2002, Vornado acquired the remaining ownership interests in both the mall and the Kmart property, making it the sole owner. The company later transferred Las Catalinas into Urban Edge Properties, a real-estate company created through the 2015 separation of selected Vornado shopping-center assets. The property expanded beyond its original enclosed-mall format in the early 2000s with the addition of The Home Depot and a Caribbean Cinemas theater. The cinema became notable as Puerto Rico's first large premium-format movie theater and, at the time of its opening, the second such theater in the Caribbean. Additional tenants and stores opened over the years, including Adidas, iShop, Forever 21, Tous, Hot Topic, and Puma. Best Buy closed its location in 2012, while other former outparcels included Office Depot and Walgreens. The mall experienced significant anchor turnover in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Kmart closed on January 31, 2019, following a company-wide store-closure program. Sears subsequently closed in February 2021, leaving the center without its two original department-store anchors. The former Kmart space was redeveloped for Sector Sixty6, an entertainment center, and Golden Corral. Sector Sixty6 opened in October 2023 following an announced investment of $22 million, while Golden Corral opened in August of the same year. The former Sears space was later selected for a Ross Dress for Less store planned for 2025. Hurricane Maria temporarily closed the mall in September 2017. The property also experienced a small fire at its Amigo supermarket in December 2023, with no reported injuries. In November 2023, Urban Edge Properties announced that Las Catalinas would be renamed Shops at Caguas after 26 years. The new identity emphasizes the mall's location and its repositioning as a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. Its reported anchor and outparcel mix includes Old Navy, Sector Sixty6, Shoe Carnival, Golden Corral, Caribbean Cinemas, Coast Guard Exchange, Supermercados Amigo, The Home Depot, Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and O'Reilly Auto Parts. Forever 21 began liquidating its Puerto Rico stores in February 2025, including its Shops at Caguas location.
History
The property occupied by Shops at Caguas was historically associated with Hacienda Santa Catalina, a nineteenth-century sugar plantation. In addition to producing sugar, the estate used sugarcane by-products in rum production and cultivated fruit. The mall's former name, Las Catalinas, commemorated this history. The shopping center was initially developed as Caguas Centrum. In April 1997, Vornado Realty Trust announced that it would acquire Kmart's 50 percent interest in the center, which was then under construction. The project was renamed Las Catalinas and opened on December 4, 1997. Manley Berenson and Yebba Realty Ventures were identified with the development. The original center included approximately 80 stores, 3,000 parking spaces, a food court called El Trapiche, and Kmart and Sears as its principal anchors. Vornado expanded its ownership in 1998 by acquiring additional interests in the mall and the Kmart anchor. On September 23, 2002, it acquired the remaining 50 percent of the shopping center from Yebba Realty Ventures and the remaining 25 percent of the Kmart property, making Vornado the sole owner. In 2015, Las Catalinas was among the properties moved into Urban Edge Properties as part of Vornado's corporate restructuring and property separation. During the early 2000s, the center added The Home Depot and a Caribbean Cinemas theater. The theater was described as Puerto Rico's first large premium-format cinema and the second of its kind in the Caribbean when it opened. Through the 2000s and 2010s, the mall hosted a broad collection of apparel, electronics, specialty, grocery, restaurant, and service tenants. New or notable additions included Adidas, iShop, Forever 21, Tous, Hot Topic, and Puma, while Best Buy closed in 2012. The center's original anchor structure changed sharply after 2015. Sears's property was reconfigured into a Seritage Growth Properties asset in 2015. Kmart announced its closure in November 2018 and ceased operations on January 31, 2019. Sears announced its own closure in December 2020, with the store shutting in February 2021. A Coast Guard Exchange was planned for the former Office Depot space, and the former Kmart space was ultimately redeveloped for Sector Sixty6 and Golden Corral. Golden Corral opened in August 2023, followed by Sector Sixty6 in October 2023 after a reported $22 million investment. Hurricane Maria caused a temporary closure in September 2017. In December 2023, a small fire occurred at the Amigo supermarket without reported injuries. Urban Edge Properties announced in November 2023 that Las Catalinas Mall would be renamed Shops at Caguas. The new name reflects the center's location and accompanies a repositioning around retail, restaurants, cinema, and family entertainment. Ross Dress for Less was announced for the former Sears space with a planned 2025 opening. In February 2025, Forever 21 began liquidating its Puerto Rico stores, including the Shops at Caguas location.
- 2023
Entertainment redevelopment opens
[1]Golden Corral and Sector Sixty6 opened in the former Kmart area.
- 2023
Rebranding to Shops at Caguas
[1]Urban Edge Properties announced the new name in November.
- 2021
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closed in February, leaving both original department-store anchors vacant.
- 2019
Kmart closes
[1]The Kmart anchor ceased operations on January 31.
- 2017
Temporary Hurricane Maria closure
[1]The mall temporarily closed after Hurricane Maria affected Puerto Rico.
- 2015
Transfer to Urban Edge Properties
[1]The property was included in the portfolio transferred into Urban Edge Properties.
- 2002
Vornado becomes sole owner
[1]Vornado acquired the remaining ownership interests in the shopping center and Kmart property.
- 1998
Vornado expands ownership
[1]Vornado Realty Trust acquired additional interests in the mall and its Kmart anchor.
- 1997
Opening as Las Catalinas Mall
[1]The center opened on December 4 with about 80 stores, Kmart and Sears anchors, a food court, and 3,000 parking spaces.
Products and positioning
A regional shopping, dining, and entertainment center serving Caguas and surrounding communities in Puerto Rico.
Apparel, footwear, specialty, and general merchandise · 1997
Retail stores
The mall brings together apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, electronics, and general-merchandise retailers. Named current or recent tenants include Old Navy, Shoe Carnival, Tous, Hot Topic, Puma, and the former Forever 21 location. The tenant mix has changed over time as national chains entered, relocated, or closed.
Restaurants and food retail · 1997
Dining and groceries
Food and beverage uses have been part of the center since its opening food court, El Trapiche. The broader property has included restaurants such as Golden Corral, Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and other food operators, along with Supermercados Amigo. The mix serves both routine shopping and destination dining.
Entertainment center · 2023
Sector Sixty6
Sector Sixty6 is an entertainment center occupying the former Kmart space. It was announced in 2021 and officially opened in October 2023 after a reported $22 million development program, giving the mall a major experiential anchor after the departure of Kmart.
Cinema
Caribbean Cinemas
The Caribbean Cinemas theater is an outparcel entertainment offering at the property. When established, it was described as Puerto Rico's first large premium-format movie theater and the second in the Caribbean region.
Brand decisions
2023
Rebrand from Las Catalinas Mall to Shops at CaguasStrategyBackground
The center had operated under the Las Catalinas name since its 1997 opening while its anchor mix and surrounding retail environment changed substantially.
Action taken
Urban Edge Properties announced a new identity, Shops at Caguas, after 26 years under the previous name.
Aftermath
The rebrand presents the property as a location-led shopping, dining, and entertainment destination.
2023
Redevelopment of former Kmart spaceStrategyBackground
Kmart closed in 2019, leaving a large former anchor space available for reuse.
Action taken
The space was converted into Sector Sixty6 and a Golden Corral restaurant.
Aftermath
The redevelopment restored a major activity-generating use to the mall and broadened its entertainment and dining offer.
Reported development cost. $22 million (2023)
Sources1 sources
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