Bragashopping is a shopping mall in the city center of Braga. It opened on 6 December 1996 as the result of the expansion of the former Centro Comercial Avenida (opened in the 1980s). The mall includes a Pingo Doce supermarket and, until 2021, a five-room cinema complex.

History

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The original mall (Centro Comercial Avenida) exists since at least the early 80s, following the demolition of Grande Hotel Central in the late 70s.[1] Bragashopping was built on the back of Avenida[1] and opened on 6 December 1996.[2] Following the opening of Minho Center and Braga Parque, it used the tagline "o centro no centro do centro".[1]

In December 2003, the mall planned an expansion of its size starting in 2005[1]

During the pandemic, most shop owners lost their revenue.[3]

Cinemas

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The old wing, when it was Centro Comercial Avenida, had its own cinemas (Cinemas Avenida). A fire broke out on the early hours of 18 October 1994 likely due to a short circuit; the materials present at its chairs and walls were highly flammable.[4] On 25 January 2014, the former Cinemas Avenida complex was occupied by Espaço TOCA.[5]

Bragashopping's new cinemas, originally Cinemas Bragashopping, were opened in 1996 and renamed Cinemax in 2003. When the first state of emergency was declared, Cinemax closed its screens on 16 March 2020.[6] After initial restrictions were lifted in October 2020, the cinemas closed in January 2021 with the proclamation of the last state of emergency; when it ended on 1 May, it was still closed.[7]

Fires

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A fire broke out at the food court on 30 September 2021, forcing the evacuation of the mall.[8] A new fire broke out at an esoteric store on the morning of 4 May 2026 at 9:40am, in the new wing (Bragashopping), and was controlled around 11:30.[9][10]

References

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