Over the last few years Costa Rica's Jaco beach area has see a real boom in the real estate market area. With the unprecedented growth, real estate is not the only thing expanding. New shopping centers are popping up to deal with the growing population.

Recently the upscale AutoMercado grocery store opened at the new Plaza Herradura shopping center. Customers have a wider variety of brand name products that were not available in Jaco beach just a few short years ago.

The AutoMercado grocery store boasts of their expansive Costa Rica produce, deli, and meat departments, and their wide variety of wines and liquors. The Plaza Herradura center has stores and restaurants you would have only been found in areas such as Escazu, just one year ago.

There are also a variety of restaurants in the Herradura center, including Shintaro Sushi Lounge, Inka Grill,  Spoon and Long Champs Restaurant and Bar.

The new mall has popular stores such as Radio Shack, Habitat Furniture, Opticas Vision as well as a pharmacy, home design center and marine shop. The current Costa Rica businesses occupy less than half of the new center's available space, so soon we'll be seeing a wider variety of businesses and services.

Years ago the main super market was Mas X Menos. They've since remodeled, doubled their size and the store looks better than some in San Jose. Within the last year more competition in that sector has opened. Stores like Maxi Bodega super market (now part of WalMart) & Mega Super grocery store.

With thousands of new luxury condos, hotels and homes currently under construction, the new stores are a welcomed and needed addition to the Central pacific area.

Some complain the flavor of Costa Rica is being destroyed by all this construction and expansion. Others hate to see the mom & pop stores get shoved aside by big businesses such as Walmart. Either way you look at it, the economy of the area is on the rise, creating hundred of new jobs for Ticos and foreigners looking for a different pace of life.