Aldi moves to the Ballermann: New store in El Arenal opens at the end of January

Aldi goes to the Ballermann: New store in El Arenal opens at the end of January

What residents and tourists can expect at Carretera Militar 199

The short winter days in El Arenal, when the wind from the sea clears the promenade and the beach bars are still tidying up, will soon gain a new meeting point: On Wednesday, January 28, according to trade sources, an Aldi store will open at Carretera Militar 199. The shop is located directly next to the already known Lidl store, between the seafront promenade and the highway toward the airport – a place where a lot of traffic and many different customers come together.

For many holidaymakers it's a small reassurance: products familiar from Germany remain available during the holiday. Aldi plans a wide assortment; nine out of ten items will be private labels, and according to the announcement eight out of ten products come from national manufacturers. Past coverage of the chain's assortment on the islands can be found in Christmas with ALDI on Mallorca: Gourmet options for the island table and in Aldi brings over 550 toys to the island — lots of choice, but at what price?.

The opening hours are practical: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 21:30. For people returning late from the beach or wanting to buy something before their return trip, this is an advantage. With the new market, Aldi increases its presence in the city; the chain now operates five stores in Palma. After the new opening there are a total of 17 locations in the Balearic Islands, 14 of them on Mallorca. A more recent addition was in 2025 in Felanitx, opened on September 10 – the expansion coincided with the chain's ten-year anniversary in the Balearics. This development is discussed in Aldi on Mallorca: Expansion with Opportunities — and Open Questions.

Anyone walking along here on a cold January morning hears the garbage trucks, the gulls' cries and the distant rumble of buses to Playa de Palma. A woman with a shopping basket, a couple in swimwear, a taxi driver waiting for passengers: they all belong to the scene, and in future some of them will probably also carry Aldi bags. This is not a major upheaval, but in everyday life you feel a difference: more choice, more competition – that brings change to local supply.

For residents this means: short distances to the supermarket, at least at this highly frequented spot. For nearby businesses, the additional customer traffic can be interesting. Tourists benefit from familiar brands and longer opening hours; for residents, the offered local products are a plus. That a discounter opens next to an existing supermarket is not unusual on Mallorca, but in El Arenal, so close to the Playa de Palma, it feels like a small event.

Some will register the decision to place another discounter with a shrug. Others, especially those who work in holiday apartments in the summer or in hotels near the promenade, will welcome the new shopping option. Sooner or later you'll see the first crates of oranges from Mallorca, perhaps a tray of sobrasada or fresh tomatoes on the shelf – products appreciated locally.

A practical tip for visitors: anyone who wants to fill a picnic basket for the beach or quickly get supplies before the return flight will find everything in one place here in the future. For the people who are here every day, be they commuters, saleswomen at the tourist stand or the older neighbor who values familiar brands, it's a small everyday relief.

The opening also marks a continuation of a development: discounters and supermarket chains have noticeably expanded in recent years on Mallorca. For the island this means more choice in retail and additional competition – and often new jobs in the stores. Whether prices will change noticeably as a result cannot be said in advance; in any case another provider brings an alternative to the street.

The scene on Carretera Militar is quiet in winter, but lively. When the store opens, you'll see, alongside the morning tradespeople, holiday guests in flip-flops who are surprised to suddenly find German products among Mallorcan cheese. A small anchor of familiar consumer habits for those who want to keep a piece of home while abroad.

Finally a brief outlook: anyone in El Arenal in the coming days can observe the opening – new signs, the hum of transporters, people with their first purchases. For the neighborhood it's a new offer, not a big promise, but something that can make everyday life a bit more convenient. The decision to operate another supermarket on this stretch of Playa de Palma shows how business life and tourism continue to intertwine here.