Search Results for “Diplomarket”

The Owner of La Carreta Is Rewarded and the Owner of the Diplomarket Is Punished

Both Havana businesses are owned by Cuban-Americans 14ymedio, Havana, 2 July 2024 — Not all private businesses on the Island receive the same treatment by the Cuban Government. The La Carreta restaurant is one of the lucky ones. This Monday, a year after the iconic establishment reopened, now restored and in private hands, it has … Continue reading “The Owner of La Carreta Is Rewarded and the Owner of the Diplomarket Is Punished”

Diplomarket, the ‘Cuban Costco’, in the Hands of a Front Man for the Regime

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez/Olea Gallardo, Havana, 11 October 2023 — The opening of a wholesale supermarket in Havana under the name Diplomarket in December last year went unnoticed. Only an ad on Instagram for the company, dedicated until then only to online purchases and shipping, gave an account of the opening of the establishment, located … Continue reading “Diplomarket, the ‘Cuban Costco’, in the Hands of a Front Man for the Regime”

The Owner of the ‘Cuban Costco’ Has Been on a Hunger Strike for Two Weeks With Deteriorating Health

14ymedio, Havana, June 14, 2025 — Frank Cuspinera, owner of Diplomarket, the “Cuban Costco,” imprisoned in the Combinado del Este, completes two weeks without eating this Saturday. The Cuban-American businessman began his fast on June 1, and his health is deteriorating rapidly, according to a family member who spoke to 14ymedio. ” He remains determined … Continue reading “The Owner of the ‘Cuban Costco’ Has Been on a Hunger Strike for Two Weeks With Deteriorating Health”

The Owner of ‘Cuban Costco’ is on a Hunger and Thirst Strike in the Combinado Del Este Prison

“He’s been ‘planted’ hard [refused to cooperate with prison authorities] and in solitary confinement,” says a relative of Frank Cuspinera. 14ymedio, Havana, June 6, 2025 — As announced, Frank Cuspinera, owner of Diplomarket, the “Cuban Costco”, imprisoned in the Combinado del Este, has been on a hunger and thirst strike since June 1. “He’s standing … Continue reading “The Owner of ‘Cuban Costco’ is on a Hunger and Thirst Strike in the Combinado Del Este Prison”

Locked Up Awaiting Trial in the Combinado del Este, the Owner of the ‘Cuban Costco’ Fears For His Life

“They punished him for his success and copied the Diplomamarket model for state-owned dollar stores,” says a source close to Frank Cuspinera. 14ymedio, Havana, May 29, 2025 — Frank Cuspinera, the Cuban-American owner of the Diplomarket (known as the “Cuban Costco”), has been in the Combinado del Este prison for almost a year awaiting trial, … Continue reading “Locked Up Awaiting Trial in the Combinado del Este, the Owner of the ‘Cuban Costco’ Fears For His Life”

From a Prison in Cuba, the Owner of the Havana ‘Costco’ Denounces Deception and Torture

Cuban-American Frank Cuspinera accuses his lawyer of colluding with State Security to “keep me in prison, defenseless.” 14ymedio, Olea Gallardo, Havana, 28 May 2025 — Almost a year after his arrest and lack of information about his whereabouts, Frank Cuspinera, owner of the Diplomarket, the “Cuban Costco” of Havana, has reappeared. He did so through … Continue reading “From a Prison in Cuba, the Owner of the Havana ‘Costco’ Denounces Deception and Torture”

The ‘Chinese Costco’ Arrives in Cuba and Everything Has Ridiculous Prices

The gigantic China Import warehouse opens in Havana, for minimum purchases of 50 dollars and in national currency 14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez/Olea Gallardo, Havana, 22 August 2024 — The new China Import store that opened just over a month ago at Manglar and Oquendo, very close to the Cuatro Caminos market in Havana, does not … Continue reading “The ‘Chinese Costco’ Arrives in Cuba and Everything Has Ridiculous Prices”

The Closure of Cuba’s ‘Chinese Costco’ for an Audit Strains the Spirits of Havanans

Customers say that the State took over the business after the independent media reported on the place 14ymedio, Havana, August 24, 2024 — The saga of the China Import store continues this Saturday with dozens of Havanans who, given its closure “until further notice,” continue to come to the surroundings to ask what will become … Continue reading “The Closure of Cuba’s ‘Chinese Costco’ for an Audit Strains the Spirits of Havanans”

Cuban Tax Authorities Close 15 ‘MSMEs’ and Punish 323 Self-employed Workers for ‘Irregularities”

Diplomarket is suspected of being closed, like others, for tax evasion 14ymedio, Madrid, 10 July 2024 — The Cuban State does not know how much money it fails to receive due to tax evasion, although only until June it had already identified more than 162 million pesos, which, without a doubt, falls short. This Wednesday, the … Continue reading “Cuban Tax Authorities Close 15 ‘MSMEs’ and Punish 323 Self-employed Workers for ‘Irregularities””

A Private-Sector Cuban Company, Paid $31,530 by the U.S. Government, Is Accused of Being a Front for the Cuban Regime

US Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar requests the termination of the contract with a company that fired an employee for writing “Down with the dictatorship” 14ymedio, Havana, 22 May 2024 — The United States Embassy in Havana found itself embroiled in a controversy after paying a privately owned Cuban communications firm $31,530 (almost 11 million pesos … Continue reading “A Private-Sector Cuban Company, Paid $31,530 by the U.S. Government, Is Accused of Being a Front for the Cuban Regime”

Cuban Faces of 2013: MSMEs, the Last Economic Hope for Cuba’s Dying Regime

14ymedio, Havana, 25 December 2023 — They started popping up, little by little at the beginning of the year, without all the attendant publicity the official media usually gives to these sorts of places. Establishments that were once state-owned, that closed after languishing for years, have reopened overnight as mipymes (a Spanish acronym for micro, … Continue reading “Cuban Faces of 2013: MSMEs, the Last Economic Hope for Cuba’s Dying Regime”

Vima Foods, Spanish Emporium which Sells Low-Quality Items for High-Quality Prices

14ymedio, Olea Gallardo, Havana, December 14, 2023 — The wedding last weekend in Havana of Víctor Moro Morros-Sarda and Alexandra Lacorne made the news in Spain’s gossip columns for having brought together several figures who frequently make appearances on their pages. Among the 400 guests were Tamara Falcó, Marchioness of Griñón, daughter of Isabel Preysler … Continue reading “Vima Foods, Spanish Emporium which Sells Low-Quality Items for High-Quality Prices”

The Cuban Regime Seeks Its Salvation in the Investments of Emigrants

14ymedio, Olea Gallardo, Havana, 19 November 2023 — Those who for decades were called “worms,” “traitors” and “counterrevolutionaries” have become the great hope of the Cuban regime to save the disastrous economy. A main objective seems to guide the Government of Cuba at the conference it is holding with emigrants this weekend in Havana: to … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime Seeks Its Salvation in the Investments of Emigrants”