Madrid shopkeepers report up to 50% sales drop amid Sol housing protest
Merchants in central Madrid say the encampment at Puerta del Sol protesting housing conditions has cut their sales by as much as half, threatening the upcoming holiday shopping season.
Businesses in Madrid’s city centre are feeling the strain of a protest camp set up at Puerta del Sol to demand better housing policy. The pastry house El Riojano, run by Roberto Martínez and employing 26 staff, reports a 50% drop in weekday customers and had to shut its doors while patrons were still inside during a clash on the day of the Pilar. Fashion retailer Muestrarios, led by Beatriz Lozano, sees a 30%-50% decline in sales and compares its Arenal outlet with sister stores in Burgos, Valladolid and Fuencarral that are not affected.
Martínez warns that the visible police presence could deter the 60% of his clientele who are tourists, while Lozano says foreign visitors ask what the protest is about but do not shop. Both merchants stress that the timing is critical, as the Black Friday kickoff and the broader Christmas shopping window loom. They hope the encampment ends soon, fearing long-term damage to the district’s commercial vitality.
