WILLEMSTAD - Cost-U-Less will close its doors definitively on February 22. The management has informed the staff. “Unfortunately, the operation of our store in Curaçao is no longer economically viable,” according to the press release that followed which was also published by Curaçao Chronicle. 

“Decisions like these are extremely difficult for us as they impact our team members who have worked hard for years to serve our customers,” said Kevin Proctor, CEO of The North West Company in Canada, which owns the store.  

The branch in Curaçao has existed since March 1999. In addition, there are eleven stores on other islands, such as Guam (3) Hawaii, St. Thomas, American Samoa, St. Maarten, Grand Cayman, and Barbados.  

The store sought its right to exist in offering popular American brand products, which are hardly available on the islands. Cost.U.Less has developed deep expertise in handling island market operations.  

Employees  

The fifty-plus employees will continue to work until February 28. After that, a sesantia benefit will be paid. They have been asked to look for another job. There would be two candidates who want to take over the Cost-U-Less location. One of them would be a Chinese entrepreneur who already runs five supermarkets in Curaçao. The other interested party would like to transform the building into a party hall.