Alcampo's exit: a shift in spanish retail and the rise of fitness

The familiar hum of shopping carts is fading on Avenida Castilla in Aranda de Duero, Spain. After nearly four decades, Alcampo, a major supermarket chain, has shuttered its doors, leaving a void in the community and raising questions about the evolving landscape of Spanish retail. The closure, citing economic unprofitability, marks the end of an era for the area and a significant blow to five now-unemployed workers.

The retail rollercoaster: a history of change

The story of this particular location is one of constant transition. Originally a SPAR store in 1987, it navigated a series of ownership changes, passing through El Árbol and Dia before being absorbed by Alcampo in 2022 as part of a national acquisition of 224 supermarkets. Despite the ambitious scale of the acquisition, integrating this store into the Alcampo network proved challenging, ultimately failing to deliver the expected returns. The move is part of a broader trend that accelerated in 2025, with Alcampo implementing a rigorous cost-cutting plan to ensure sustainable growth, flagging underperforming locations.

But the space won’t remain empty for long. In a striking pivot, Imagym, a gym already operating next door, is set to expand, effectively doubling its footprint to over 1,400 square meters. The anticipated opening in late June or early July signals a clear shift: lifestyle services, particularly fitness and wellness, are aggressively claiming space previously occupied by essential food retailers in urban centers.

Mercadona's expansion and the peripheral shift

The Alcampo closure is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Mercadona, the Spanish supermarket giant led by Juan Roig, is undertaking a €7 million project in the nearby Polígono Norte, building a new 1,800-square-meter hypermarket with almost 200 parking spaces. While this represents significant investment and job creation, the ripple effects are already being felt. The new store will necessitate the closure of Mercadona’s existing location on Calle Carrequemada, a historically vital hub for the Santa Catalina neighborhood.

The consequence is a worrying trend: major retailers are increasingly relocating to the periphery, leaving established neighborhoods like Santa Catalina and Avenida Castilla underserved. This shift poses accessibility challenges, particularly for elderly residents and those without personal vehicles, making daily shopping more difficult. It also inevitably encourages car dependence, drawing consumer spending away from the city center and creating uncertainty for historical commercial properties.

The convenience of expansive aisles and free parking is winning out over the traditional corner store, but the question remains: will the residents of Aranda de Duero ultimately prioritize a gym over the ease of buying milk and bread without a lengthy journey?

Frequently asked questions

Why did Alcampo close its Avenida Castilla location? The store failed to achieve the necessary economic profitability.

What will occupy the space left by Alcampo? Imagym gym will be expanding into the location.

How many employees were affected by the closure? Five employees have been made redundant.

The rise of fitness centers and the retreat of traditional supermarkets from urban cores is not merely a local phenomenon; it reflects a broader societal shift towards prioritizing wellness and convenience, even at the expense of community and accessibility. The battle for retail space in Spain—and across Europe—is far from over.