Palma's newly renovated kiosks close after just one year — operators pull the plug

Just before winter: Palma's kiosks give up

Less than a year ago they stood gleaming — new colors, modern displays, photos for the brochure. Now five municipal kiosks in Palma are unexpectedly closing their doors. The operators say the project was unsustainable: after months in the red they will not renew the leases and will vacate the stalls at the end of this month.

An economic end instead of a fresh start

The people behind the counters report a bitter balance. They say they injected money into the business repeatedly in recent months and now expect total losses in the mid six-figure range. Small entrepreneurs selling newspapers, sweets and a few snacks simply had too little margin to cover fixed costs.

Why did it fail? The restrictions

Central were the regulations that put strict limits on sales: hot drinks like cappuccinos or chocolate were not allowed so as not to compete with nearby cafés. Plans to install ATMs or parcel lockers that promised extra revenue never materialized. Practical shortcomings also played a role: some stalls, for example, had no running water, severely limiting food service options.

Neighborhood, tourists, memory

The affected kiosks stood in familiar spots: in front of Bar Bosch, at Plaça Mercat, by the Olivar market and at Plaça Progrès. For walkers and older residents they were often more than a newsstand — a quick word, a small chat, the cash for a market visit. "You get the feeling something everyday is disappearing," said a neighbor who bought a newspaper every morning.

Life hasn't become easier for cafés either, commented a local business owner dryly, who has worked at the square for decades. Some residents complain that administrative decisions and tender conditions were too rigid. Others are pragmatic: the city wants standards and order — the operators say those rules cut off revenue streams.

What remains?

In the end, the question is how municipal services should be run: as social meeting points or purely for rental income. The debate may intensify now that a visible piece of the cityscape is lost. For the operators it is clear: without additional income and without the ability to run the kiosk as it once was, the business is not viable.

The farewell of the kiosks is quieter than their reopening a year ago. Regular customers will notice — and may wonder what comes next.