Cenco Malls (BCS: CENCOMALLS), the shopping center arm of Chilean retail conglomerate Cencosud (NYSE: CNCO, BCS: CENCOSUD), has closed the acquisition of a 51% indirect stake in Plaza Central, one of Bogotá’s largest shopping centers, for $125 million USD. The transaction was completed June 3, 2026, following the fulfillment of all conditions established in the agreement between Cenco Malls’ Colombian subsidiary, Cencosud Col Shopping S.A.S., and Patrimonio Autónomo Estrategias Inmobiliarias (BVC: PEI), Colombia’s largest real estate investment vehicle, which retains a 49% stake in the asset.

Plaza Central, inaugurated in October 2016, is located in the Puente Aranda district of Bogotá, at the intersection of three major arterial roads — Avenida de Las Américas, Calle 13, and Avenida 68 — with direct access to mass transit. The mall serves a predominantly middle-income residential and commercial catchment area, within one of the city’s most active business corridors.

“We expect this acquisition to have a favorable effect on the consolidated results of the company, incorporating a relevant asset for the region into our portfolio.” — Sebastián Bellocchio, CEO, Cenco Malls

According to figures reported at year-end 2025, Plaza Central has 204,832 square meters of total built area and 76,520 square meters of gross leasable area (GLA), with occupancy of approximately 95%. The property generated revenues of 79,098 million COP in 2025. The mall holds LEED certification in both Design and Construction and Operations and Maintenance, and has approximately 1,000 solar panels installed.

“We expect this acquisition to have a favorable effect on the consolidated results of the company, incorporating a relevant asset for the region into our portfolio and strengthening the experience we offer visitors to this shopping center,” said Sebastián Bellocchio, CEO of Cenco Malls.

The deal adds a significant Colombian asset to Cenco Malls’ regional portfolio, which currently comprises 41 shopping centers and 1,450,560 square meters of GLA across Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The company was listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange in June 2019 in what was at the time the largest initial public offering in the Chilean market.

PEI, which will continue as a 49% partner in Plaza Central, is Colombia’s largest real estate investment vehicle, with stakes in more than 150 income-generating assets across more than 30 cities. Its equity securities trade on the Colombian Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de Colombia) under the ticker PEI.

Headline Photo: Plaza Central in Bogotá (courtesy Cenco Malls)

A neighborhood resident captured the whole thing on video and published it, captioned “things I would miss if I lived in Europe.”

@yessicacespedes1 Cosas q solo pasan en colombia ?? #colombianadas #colombia #toro #policianacional #policianacionalcolombia #tiktok #viral ♬ original sound – soucitigrafix

Happy Ending

An animal sanctuary called Namigni stepped in and with the help of public donations, was able to purchase the bovine, previously designated “Number 31,” but renamed by them “Esplendor.” Accompanying Esplendor, was a cow named Luciana. The animal sanctuary is open to visitors, where presumably they can meet and greet Esplendor, who had beef with the cops and won!

 

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A post shared by Santuario Animal Namigni (@santuarioanimalnamigni)

Photo: The neighborhood of Chapinero features one of the many, massive potholes marring the streets and highways in Bogotá. (Credit: Jared Wade)

The neighborhoods that have benefited from the most from this year’s “Bogota Without Potholes” campaign are Suba, Kennedy, Engativá, Barrios Unidos, Usaquén, and Puente Aranda.

Road maintenance continues 24 hours a day in the capital, said the mayor’s office, and is currently ongoing on Carrera 19, Carrera 15, Calle 53, Avenidas Agoberto Mejía, and Avenida Villavicencio. Overall, the mayor has identified 113 streets for repairs within this initiative.

The two entities tasked with meeting the goal are the Instituto de Desarrollo (IDU) and the Unidad de Mantenimiento Vial (UMV). The IDU has repaired 37,573 potholes this year, and the UMV has filled another 31,255.

(Credit: Alcaldia de Bogotá)