Baja Duty Free grows in San Ysidro

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US/Mexico border operator Baja Duty Free, a subsidiary of Fairn and Swanson, is to open a new border store at the San Ysidro crossing in July. The 1,200sq ft (111sq m) shop will sell all traditional duty-free products and will cater for pedestrian traffic at the Tijuana border point. And Baja has also begun the construction of a 10,000sq ft (930sq m) store at the Las Americas shopping centre in San Ysidro, due to open in June.

Baja's new border store will be the only duty-free outlet at the reconstructed San Ysidro Transit Station, which will be redeveloped over the next two years to feature an enlarged pedestrian plaza and improved transport links. Meanwhile, the operator will become the exclusive duty-free retailer at the Las Americas mall, a $260m shopping, entertainment and dining development covering 370,000sq ft (34,370sq m) of retail and catering space.

Baja said it plans to develop premium brands at its Las Americas store, with special areas devoted to promotions, events and cosmetic makeovers. "The opening of the new Las Americas store gives Baja the opportunity to introduce non-traditional duty-free products as well as expand lines in our existing items," commented Baja Duty Free retail buyer for the southern border Martha Guerra. "There is a demand for these new products and now we will have the platform to provide them."