Merchants of the Reading Promenade bet on the last minute due to a slow start in school sales
With just over a week left until the start of the 2026-2027 school year in the Dominican Republic, book vendors located at the traditional Paseo de la Lectura, on Duarte Avenue, maintain the expectation of a significant commercial rebound. Although the last few days have seen a limited flow of customers, the sector is confident that the dynamic will change drastically over this weekend.
With the return to classes scheduled for Monday, August 24, more than two million students are preparing to return to the classrooms. However, for merchants, current activity does not reach the levels observed in previous years, a situation they attribute mainly to the lack of economic liquidity in households and the deep-rooted Dominican habit of postponing purchases until the very last moment.
Hope placed in the paycheck
Sellers with years of experience in the area, such as Dani Quiterio, have described the current pace of sales as unusually low. According to Quiterio, commercial activity is not even reaching a quarter of what it used to be in past seasons. However, there is a consensus among workers in the area: the arrival of payday and the days leading up to the start of classes will be decisive in reactivating the school economy.
We Dominicans leave everything for the last minute. We have faith that the public will support us as the start date of classes approaches.
María Rivera, merchant at the Paseo de la Lectura.
Alternatives for family savings
Given the costs that new books can reach, up to RD$2,450 per copy, the Paseo de la Lectura positions itself as a strategic alternative for the family budget. Merchants offer various options to ease the economic burden:
- Used books: Available from RD$800 to RD$1,000, depending on the condition of the text.
- Exchanges: A highly requested option where parents can turn in books from previous years and, by paying a difference starting at RD$350, acquire those corresponding to the new academic level.
Despite the initial uncertainty, some vendors like Henry Félix and Bolívar Viola have noticed a gradual improvement since last Thursday. Historical trends suggest that, despite the slowness of the process, sales volume will experience an exponential increase in the coming days, consolidating the Reading Promenade as a key point for school supplies in Greater Santo Domingo.
