Despite some challenges, the stores in Ponta Delgada’s historic center are closing in 2024 with a positive balance and good expectations for next year. Tiago Sá, from Londrina, recognizes that December’s sales weren’t as strong as in 2023, but he still considers the month positive. “It was good, not as good as last year,” he said.
At the Cavalinho store, Rosa highlights the positive evolution with a successful transition to the brand’s official store. The store expects improvements in 2025 with the remodeling of the space. Henrique, from Vida Nova, highlights the store’s continued growth, especially with the greater influx of tourists.
Lúcia, from Sweetartes, and Teresa, from Sayonara, adopt an optimistic outlook despite the ups and downs experienced throughout the year. While Sweetheartes overcame challenges with hard work and dedication, Sayonara focused on reorganization, including integrating new brands with good prospects for the future.

Tiago Sá from Londrina says this month has been positive
In the heart of Ponta Delgada, the Londrina men’s clothing store experienced another Christmas season. In an interview, Tiago Sá described Christmas 2024 as “positive”, albeit with some reservations. “It was good, it was positive. It wasn’t as good as last year, because sales have dropped a little in the last few days. But it was positive,” he explained.
Despite the fluctuations in sales, Tiago Sá confirmed that December continues to be the most productive month for his business. “Yes, we’ve always grown every year. It’s always the best month of the year,” he said, highlighting the gradual growth pattern he has seen in recent years.
As for the future, Tiago Sá’s expectations for 2025 are moderate but hopeful. “If it’s better, even better. But if it’s the same, that’s good enough. Don’t let it get any worse,” he said, showing a pragmatic and confident attitude towards the new year’s challenges.

Loja Cavalinho will have improvements next year.

The Cavalinho store, represented by Rosa, ended December positively. Rosa assessed the performance of the Christmas month positively. “December was good, thank God, you can’t complain. For me, the expectations for December were met, which is very good. Now we have to keep going,” she said, showing satisfaction with the results.
Rosa confirmed a significant improvement when asked about her performance compared to last year. “For us, yes. For us always, because last year we were still in a transition phase for the Cavalinho brand, and this year, as it’s already an official store, there’s been a transition on a public level.”
As for next year, Rosa maintains an optimistic outlook, with concrete plans for improvements at the store. “We hope it will be even better, given that we’re going to start work and we’re going to modify the space to better serve our customers, right? And those who visit us, which is also important. And so, of course, we also have good expectations for next year.”

“Good expectations for 2025”, says Henrique from Vida Nova.

According to Henrique Henriques, the Vida Nova store will close in 2024 with a positive balance, marked by continued growth and good expectations for the future. Despite the challenges inherent in local commerce, the combination of tourists and local customers has been a key factor in the store’s success.
Henrique gives a favorable assessment of the past year, highlighting the seasons’ differences. “It went very well, for example, obviously in summer it’s easy, isn’t it? We don’t have to worry too much because we have tourists and there are always people shopping. In winter, this is our second year already open, and we’ve already noticed a difference. Last year’s winter was weaker, for example, but I think it’s growing more and more every year,” he said.
December was a particularly positive month for the store, partly due to its new location. “It was great; it was what we expected, thank God. This is our first December here. Last year, we were in SolMar, but it was a more hidden store on the second floor. It’s been great here.
Looking ahead to next year, Henrique expects continued growth. “I think it’s going to continue to boom, honestly. For me, I think, if I remember correctly, from April onwards I noticed a big increase in tourists and everything,” he explains.

This year has been one of “ups and downs” for Sweetheartes

Lúcia, from Sweetheartes, says that this year there have been ups and downs marking the store. “The year 2024 had its ups and downs. And we’ve always tried to work around the difficulties. I don’t want to focus on the negative because maybe last year was much weaker, but there were ups and downs. Nothing you can’t overcome with a good mood.”
December also brought challenges, although with the same optimistic outlook. “December was worse than last year, yes. But nothing that can’t be overcome with a good mood and a lot of work. Because here we don’t just have sales, we have the production of our things, we have events, we have all the work that makes up for the other,” said Lúcia.
As for the future, Lúcia is pragmatic. “I live day-to-day. I hope there will be a lot of peace and love so that we can fight a little longer, but I hope it will be better, perhaps. We’ll see. As long as it’s not worse than this one, that’s enough.”

2024 was a year of change for Sayonara

The Sayonara store, under the management of Teresa Neves, had a positive 2024, even though it was a year of change. Teresa explained there has been an evolution: “2024 was, fortunately, a positive year for us. We are reorganizing our company by restructuring our ‘Sayonara Intima’ and ‘Be Shop’ stores, which are currently closed. The ‘Be Shop’ was integrated into our ‘Sayonara’ store, which now sells two more brands: ‘Desigual’ and ‘Guess’. Our aim is to centralize all the ready-to-wear brands we sell in a single space.” The Sayonara store has increased its area to accommodate these two brands and integrate even more options for customers.
About “Sayonara Intima,” Teresa revealed that they are still studying various options for restructuring the store and hope to resume business in the coming months.
December was a month of good results for the store. “We’re very pleased with the results we’ve been achieving this December. We’ve been feeling a good response from the public and our customers, who have come to trust more and more in the quality of the products we sell and the personalized service we offer,” said Teresa.
As for the future, the interviewee maintains an optimistic outlook. “Our expectations are always positive because we have a lot of confidence in the products we sell and the personalized service we offer our customers.”
Teresa Neves also stressed the importance of improving the city’s historic center, calling on the competent authorities to make an effort. “We hope that the competent authorities will also make an effort and focus on improving and making our historic center a safe, lively, civic and organized place, capable of attracting people and entrepreneurs with the capacity to invest in our city.”
Filipe Torres is a journalist for the Correio dos Açores newspaper-Natalino Viveiros, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.