Curitiba downtown repurposes historic bank building into supermarket and relocates cultural hub

A former bank building at 474 Rua Marechal Deodoro in Curitiba’s centre, which housed Banespa and a Santander branch for decades, has been leased to the Festval supermarket chain. Owned by SKNA Properties in partnership with Nacional Empreendimentos, the 5,847 m² building is expected to open as a supermarket in early 2027, pending final documentation.

Meanwhile, the independent cultural space Casa de Pandora, which has operated for six years in the Mercês neighbourhood, will move to a new larger venue at 879 Rua 13 de Maio, Casa 3, also in the city centre. The relocation, scheduled for 2026, will allow expanded workshops, events and community projects. A farewell party is planned for 8 August 2026. Founder and CEO Deisy dos Santos highlighted the move as a sign of growth for the collective.

Both developments reflect a broader transformation of Curitiba’s historic downtown, shifting former financial and artistic venues toward new commercial and cultural uses.