The City Council is putting out to tender the concession for the new "La Plasa" market, which will integrate a traditional market and a gastronomic market as a social and commercial reference space

The Torrevieja City Council has approved the tender for the concession of the future "La Plasa" Market, a strategic project that will transform the historic Mercado de Abastos (Central Market) into a modern space combining the continuity of the traditional market with a thriving gastronomic market, integrating tradition, innovation, and tourist appeal. The deadline for submitting bids is 20 calendar days from the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Province (BOP).

The mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, has highlighted that “La Plasa will be much more than a market: it will be a meeting point for residents and visitors, where the traditional market will coexist with new gastronomic proposals, reinforcing our identity and revitalizing the urban center.”

The market will be located on the ground floor and mezzanine level of the building, with a total area of 2,080.13 square meters, distributed as 1,326.11 m² on the ground floor and 754.02 m² on the mezzanine, allowing for up to 30 stalls. The design includes open spaces, shared tables, and areas for social interaction, illuminated by skylights, reinforcing the idea of the market as a space for community and shared experiences.

A FLEXIBLE, PROFESSIONAL MODEL WITH A LOCAL IDENTITY

The winning concessionaire will be responsible for the comprehensive management of the market, including the conservation, maintenance and operation of the facilities, under strict criteria of quality, sustainability, safety, accessibility and respect for the urban and residential environment.

The bidder will propose, within their investment and operation project, the final number of stalls and the activities to be developed, which may be less than the maximum foreseen, as well as the distribution and the operating model of the market.

The Councillor for Commerce and Hospitality, Rosario Martínez, has emphasized that “this document guarantees a carefully considered balance between modernization and protection of traditional commerce, allowing La Plasa to be a viable, attractive project that respects the history of the market.”

PROTECTION OF TRADITIONAL TRADE

One of the project's fundamental pillars is the protection of traditional activities. The tender specifies that up to nine of the stalls will be offered preferentially to operators who already carried out their activity in the old Mercado de Abastos (Central Market), provided they express their willingness to join the new model.

These established businesses will benefit from a reduced fixed rate of €9.21 per square meter per month, ensuring their continued operation and facilitating a smooth transition to the new market. All other newly established businesses will have a maximum rate of €35 per square meter per month, providing legal certainty and economic stability to the project.

INVESTMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC RETURN

The project includes a mandatory minimum investment of €733,582.07 (including VAT) for the adaptation of the facilities, in addition to an estimated initial investment of €90,750 for the start-up of the business units. All facilities built by the concessionaire will revert to the City Council upon termination of the concession.

The concession is granted for a period of 10 years, with the possibility of two annual extensions, and a minimum annual fee of 56,300 euros, updatable according to the CPI, guaranteeing the economic viability of the project and a stable return for the municipal coffers.

The mayor pointed out that “we are talking about a very important private investment, which will generate employment, revitalize the city center and reinforce Torrevieja's position as a gastronomic and commercial destination throughout the year.”

A PROJECT WITH A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The tender also provides for the possibility that bidders may submit proposals for the use of the two upper floors of the building, as a valuable improvement in the awarding process, without this generating automatic rights, allowing the City Council to have elements of analysis for a future planning of the property.

Likewise, the City Council reserves the right to use these spaces occasionally for institutional, cultural or promotional events, reinforcing the public and multifunctional nature of the building.

TRANSPARENCY, COMPETITION AND QUALITY

The award will be made through an open procedure, assessing both the offered fee and the quality of the investment, operation and management project, as well as the proven experience in the management of markets or similar facilities.

Rosario Martínez concluded by pointing out that "this market was created with the aim of becoming a city icon, a place where tradition, gastronomy and modernity coexist, and where local businesses play a leading role."

150,000 EUROS IN AID FOR BUSINESSES IN THE SQUARE AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS

Finally, the mayor and the councilor for Commerce and Hospitality held meetings with the shopkeepers of La Plasa, where they reached an agreement to provide them with financial assistance during the construction period. As a result, the Torrevieja City Council has approved a grant program totaling €150,000 to support these businesses affected by the renovations.

The aid is aimed at businesses that have continued operating in temporary locations or that have been forced to temporarily close, covering up to 80% of expenses or losses. The eligible period runs from September 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, and applications must be submitted electronically after publication in the Official Gazette of the Province of Alicante (BOP).