- An expanding phenomenon that worries the council
- The new municipal team entering the scene
- What the regulations say about opening hours
- Expected impact on neighborhoods and merchants
- A before and after in mastering night trade
The debate on the Supermarkets open 24 hours a day in Barcelona This has been on the table of neighbors, traders and the administration for some time now. The increase in this type of establishment, particularly in central areas with a high tourist density, has generated recurring complaints related to schedules, cohabitation, noise and working conditions.
Faced with this scenario, Barcelona City Hall has announced the launch of a specific system which will allow the real functioning of these companies to be analyzed in more detail. The initiative is coordinated by the Commerce zone and is supported by the municipal inspection services.
An expanding phenomenon that worries the council
In recent years, Barcelona has seen a proliferation of small supermarkets and convenience stores that keep their blinds open all night. Many of these establishments operate under generic food trade licenses, although their actual activity raises questions about the legality of the hours.
The Council recognizes that the current regulatory framework makes effective monitoring difficult. Licensing does not always accurately reflect the business model, making it difficult to know whether or not an establishment can open without interruption.
Neighbor complaints and unequal competition
Neighborhood associations have been warning for some time about cohabitation problems linked to these premises: constant entries and exits of customers, nighttime distribution of goods and accumulation of waste during sensitive times.
At the same time, traditional commerce denounces competition that it considers unfair. Stores that strictly adhere to the schedules established by regional regulations observe the operation of other establishments without interruption, with different costs and requirements.
The new municipal team entering the scene
To respond to this situation, the Municipal Council decided to create a specific control equipment focused on supermarkets open 24 hours a day. This group will act in coordination with the usual control services, but with a specialized approach.
The main mission will be to verify whether the activity carried out by these premises complies with the authorization granted and the regulations on opening hours in force in Catalonia, which establishes clear limits for continued opening.
More detailed inspections and continuous monitoring
The new system will not be limited to specific actions. The goal is to conduct recurring inspections that detect patterns of noncompliance, from unauthorized scheduling to irregularities in space use or working conditions.
According to information provided by the Town Hall itself, this reinforcement will make it possible to act more quickly when anomalies are detected and, if necessary, to initiate sanction procedures.
What the regulations say about opening hours
The regulations on opening hours in Catalonia provide for very specific exceptions for permanent opening. Not all businesses can operate 24 hours a day and the regulations distinguish between types of establishments, surfaces and locations.
The legal framework can be consulted in detail through the official information on commerce and opening hours of the Generalitat of Catalonia, which sets the conditions under which an establishment can extend its usual opening hours.
Generic licenses and actual uses
One of the main problems detected is the use of licenses which, in practice, do not correspond to real activity. Some stores operate as convenience supermarkets with additional services that are not always included in the initial authorization.
The new inspection team will focus precisely on this difference between what appears in municipal records and what happens in everyday business.
Expected impact on neighborhoods and merchants
The municipal council defends that the measure seeks to balance interests. On the one hand, guaranteeing peace and quiet in the neighborhood and compliance with regulations. On the other hand, to offer legal security to both new commercial formats and local commerce.
The council insists that this is not a campaign against a specific model, but rather to ensure that all establishments respect the same rules and the urban environment.
A change that can create a trend
Barcelona thus becomes one of the first large cities to face the rise of supermarkets open 24 hours a day with a specific control system. The experience could serve as a reference for other municipalities facing similar problems.
The deployment of the municipal team will make it possible, for the first time, to have precise data on the number of stores that actually operate 24 hours a day and under what conditions they do so.
A before and after in mastering night trade
The creation of this team marks a turning point in municipal policy regarding urban commerce. Control will no longer be reactive but will become systematic monitoring of an activity that has developed silently.
With this decision, Barcelona seeks to regain control of a phenomenon that affects both the coexistence and commercial balance of the city, laying the foundations for future regulatory decisions.
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