Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
5 comments 
Shopping Baixa dos Sapateiros Loses Over 70% of Stores, Maintains Fewer Than 30 of 91 Active, Exposing Space Crisis Established in 1982 in Popular Trade of Salvador
The Shopping Baixa dos Sapateiros, in Salvador, has returned to public debate after a video from influencer Caio Costa showed the abandonment of the space inaugurated in 1982, now with fewer than 30 active stores out of a total of 91, highlighting a structural crisis.
Video on Social Media Rekindles Debate About Abandonment
The recording published by Caio Costa, creator of the profile A Vida em Salvador, has surpassed almost 20,000 views on TikTok. The content shows empty corridors, deteriorated structures, and a lack of constant commercial flow.
During the recorded visit, the influencer walks through internal areas and describes the feeling of abandonment, highlighting the lack of maintenance and visible deterioration at different points in the shopping center.
-
About 150 workers are driving, one by one, 4,585 BYD electric cars off a 220-meter ship at the Port of Itajaí. The 48-hour mega-operation is the largest shipment from the Chinese automaker in Santa Catarina this year.
-
Samara left the city, built a small power plant on her property, and now lives surrounded by waterfalls, her own energy, sustainable recycling, and preserved nature in the Serra da Mantiqueira.
-
The end of Japan? Population is disappearing, country loses more than 3 million inhabitants in just five years and birth rate falls for the tenth consecutive year, raising alarm about demographic collapse and lack of workers.
-
China surprises the world by inaugurating a new era: the country will create a “digital ID” for 28,000 humanoid robots from 100 manufacturers, while machines capable of cooking, doing laundry, and caring for the elderly begin free domestic testing in 2027.
According to recent data, the shopping center has lost more than 70% of its stores since its peak. Of the original 91 establishments, fewer than 30 are currently operational.
Deteriorated Structures and Precarious Operation
In the video, Caio Costa draws attention to equipment that remains from the period of greatest activity of the shopping center. He mentions a non-operational escalator and an elevator with risky operation.
“The situation of abandonment is visible […] There are still traces, the escalator. If I’m not mistaken, the elevator also works precariously. I saw a video of someone having the courage to use the elevator, but I wouldn’t have that courage,” the influencer says in the recording.
The described scenario reinforces the perception of progressive deterioration of the space, with unoccupied areas and signs of structural wear accumulated over the years.
Memory of the Commercial Peak of the Space
In addition to the criticisms, the influencer recalls the period when the shopping center represented popular trade in Salvador. He points to former references, such as the presence of a Caixa Econômica agency.
Caio Costa notes that some stores are still functioning on the upper floor, indicating occasional resistance from merchants despite the widespread emptying of the shopping center.
Internet Users’ Reactions and Possible Causes
In the comments of the video, users lamented the current situation of the shopping center. Reports mention sadness, memories of working in the place, and a perception of decay in the financial center.
One user attributed the decline to the removal of bus lines to Barroquinha, pointing out changes in public transportation as a factor that directly impacted consumer flow.
The comments reinforce that the crisis of Shopping Baixa dos Sapateiros involves not only physical abandonment but also urban and logistical transformations accumulated over time.
With information from PSnoticias.
O que eu observo em tudo isso é o seguinte: nada , absolutamente nada dura para sempre entendeu? Muitos impérios e civilizações teve seu período de reinar e caiu, lugares comerciais e setores econômicos é a mesma coisa, nem a nossa vida é para sempre, então parem de achar que isso é por causa de A ou B, com o advento das transformações sociais, tecnológicas, bom o avanço da internet aonde vc pode pedir produtos e receber no conforto do seu lado, com o avanço e surgimento de vários Bairros que ali cresceu seu comércio e seus pontos comerciais vendendo seus produtos , muitas pessoas resolveram comprar em seus bairros ou bairros mais próximo aonde vende também, óbvio que com estratégias e investimentos do estado as coisas podem até voltar a melhor, o que eu tenho a dizer é para as pessoas se confirmarem com o avanço e a modernização e os pensamentos dos comerciantes fregueses, ali foi uma fase, numa geração e já passou, nos resta lembranças, agora pode sim o lugar ser usado para novos projetos comerciais, como uma revitalização de uma nova cara essa região para ser centro oriental, já que os orientais são muito bom pra abrir comércios, essa região poderia abrir esse shoping e se chamar shopping oriental como em São Paulo tem na 25 de março, com lojas de eletrônicos em geral : celulares, cabos, capas, loja de sacolas e bolsas em geral, calçados, perfumes importados, concertos, comércio em atacado e varejo além de lanchonetes etc garanto que os comércios ao redor iria se fortalecer e seria uma região polo comercial com uma cara nova
O comércio de Bairro expandiu. Se no meu bairro vende a mesma coisa que vende na Barroquinha, com preço similar ou até mais em conta, não tenho a necessidade de me deslocar.
Deveria colocar os chineses tanto aí como na baixa dos sapateiro, como tem em São Paulo