Universal Plans to Expand To 14 Stores by 2010

Universal, the popular chain of onestop shopping destinations, plans to open four more stores before 2010, bringing their Costa Rican total to 14.

The store’s leadership will take the beginning of 2009 to evaluate the country’s economic situation, and have not set exact locations for most of the planned stores, according to the Costa Rican daily La Nación.

The new shops are tentatively planned for Escazú, west of San José; Moravia to the northeast; Alajuela, northwest of the capital; and Cartago, to the east.

A new store is opening in Multicentro Desamparados this week, becoming the 10th Universal in the country.

Universal sells technological products, sports equipment, books, office supplies and furniture, children’s toys and other goods.

The first Universal opened in 1926 in San José. Stores can also be found in the western San José suburb of Santa Ana; Heredia, north of San José; and Liberia, the capital of the northwestern province of Guanacaste.