The French sporting goods chain Decathlon is returning to Argentina after more than 20 years and will open its first store this Saturday, November 8th, at 9 AM.
The long-awaited branch, with which the chain is returning to the country, is located in the Al Río complex in Vicente López, Buenos Aires province. The store will occupy a space of 3,000 square meters in the area previously used by the Carrefour hypermarket's food court, which downsized its facility and is located next to the Sodimac store.
According to Clarí, businessman Manuel Antelo (famous in the 90s for bringing the brand to the country with Grupo One), high attendance is expected. Therefore, the doors will open at 6 AM so that the public can line up before the official opening at 9.
The return after the 2001 crisis and a $100 million plan Decathlon's return comes after a brief and failed first attempt: the company opened a store in the year 2000 but had to close it in 2002, a victim of the economic crisis. On that occasion, the chain had operated directly in the country with its only store at Soleil Shopping.
This time, the launch is part of an ambitious $100 million investment plan for the next five years, with the goal of opening twenty stores in different cities across the country.
Antelo, who is driving this return, stated that the opening of imports, promoted by the government of President Javier Milei, was a key factor that made this venture possible.
The new store will offer around 5,000 items from its own brands such as Quechua, Tribord, and Domyos, and will be complemented by an e-commerce website with national distribution.
