LA ROMANA — Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader joined senior leadership from global warehouse retail chain PriceSmart this week to mark the official opening of the company’s newest membership club in this eastern Dominican city, a $21.1 million project that expands the retailer’s footprint in the country and injects new momentum into regional economic growth.
Strategically positioned along the heavily traveled La Romana–Higüey highway, the new 6,205-square-meter facility boasts nearly 4,000 square meters of dedicated retail sales space alongside 309 customer parking spots. To serve member needs, the location offers a full suite of amenities including an in-club pharmacy, professional optical center, prepared food section, and flexible digital shopping solutions: members can opt for contactless Click & Go pickup or schedule direct home delivery for their orders.
A major outcome of the new opening is job creation: the club has generated approximately 125 full-time direct positions, with the vast majority of roles filled by local La Romana residents. The launch marks a key milestone for PriceSmart’s regional expansion, bringing the company’s total count of clubs operating in the Dominican Republic to six, and its overall footprint across Latin America and the Caribbean to 57 locations.
In line with global corporate sustainability goals, PriceSmart constructed the new facility to meet EDGE green building certification standards. The club is equipped with a suite of eco-friendly features, including rooftop solar panels, energy-saving LED lighting throughout the building, high-efficiency commercial cooling systems, and on-site waste recycling infrastructure to lower the location’s carbon footprint.
For members, the club stocks more than 1,600 different products, with more than 700 of those items sourced directly from Dominican-based vendors, supporting local manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Beyond its core retail operations, PriceSmart used the opening to highlight its ongoing commitment to community development in the country. Through the PriceSmart Foundation, the company will roll out targeted local initiatives including regular food donation drives, infrastructure and program support for local public schools, and expanded youth education and skills training programs, cementing the chain’s long-term investment in both economic growth and social progress across the Dominican Republic.