Barcelona’s sprawling Sant Martí district has experienced an explosion in the number of 24-hour supermarkets, with at least 104 new convenience stores opening in just over five years. A municipal report requested by the Esquerra Republicana (ERC) party details these figures, revealing the rapid pace of change in the area’s commercial landscape, prompting new regulations and fuelling residents’ concerns over noise and anti-social behaviour.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Analysed by La Vanguardia and TOT Barcelona, the report shows that between October 2020 and December 2025, the number of these establishments grew relentlessly. After an initial six stores opened in late 2020, a further 20 appeared in 2021, followed by 24 in 2022, 22 in 2023, and a peak of 29 in 2024. Growth only halted in 2025, with just three new openings, after the City Council imposed a moratorium to develop new urban planning rules.
A Neighbourhood Under Pressure
Sant Martí district now holds 381 licences for these businesses, officially categorised as self-service shops or small supermarkets. Significantly, these licences concentrate across just 291 addresses, meaning 78 locations host more than one licensed establishment. For instance, the neighbourhood of Poblenou is the most saturated, with 65 stores, followed by Camp de l’Arpa del Clot with 58.
This proliferation has, however, come at a significant cost for many residents. The Poblenou neighbours’ association has voiced concerns about the “degradation of coexistence” that the surge in 24-hour commerce brings. They specifically highlight issues linked to the late-night sale of alcohol, which frequently fuels disturbances after nearby bars and clubs close.
“Many people leave the bars and find these supermarkets open,” representatives from the association explained. “Many supermarkets sell alcohol at times when they are not permitted to, and this, along with some nightlife venues, affects the daily lives of many neighbours.”
The association expressed disappointment with the city’s new regulations, deeming them not strict enough. “We would have preferred a stricter distance regulation,” they stated, referring to the new urban plan for Sant Martí approved in early 2026. The plan stipulates that new 24-hour establishments must not open within 200 metres of an existing one. Consequently, residents are now calling on the council to remain vigilant against administrative workarounds and to ensure that closed supermarkets are not simply replaced by similar businesses.
Inspections Reveal Widespread Issues
The municipal report also highlights significant compliance issues among these businesses. Between October 2023 and November 2025, city technicians and the Guàrdia Urbana carried out 75 inspections. A staggering 64 of these-nearly 85%-uncovered anomalies. Only eleven businesses were found fully compliant.
These inspections, 69 initiated by the council and six by citizen complaints, resulted in 19 sanctioning procedures. However, the report notes that the City Council lacks specific data on sanctions or complaints filtered by this business type, due to their absence of a unique administrative category. Ultimately, this data gap complicates a full assessment of the problem.
The city’s struggle to manage the impact of these shops unfolds against a backdrop of wider urban transformation in Sant Martí, encompassing major projects like the Avinguda Diagonal tram connection and large-scale regeneration efforts along the Besòs river, including a €15 million housing plan.
Political Criticism and Calls for a Ban
The ERC, which prompted the report, has criticised the city’s handling of the issue, arguing that the data reveals a systemic failure of governance.
“The proliferation of these businesses in recent years shows that Barcelona needs to better organise and regulate this activity,” Alamany said. “This situation is a consequence of a lack of planning and regulation by the municipal governments of both Ada Colau and Jaume Collboni.”
Alamany, who previously vowed to ban such shops, demanded an immediate suspension of “new licences for establishments related to tourism, like 24-hour supermarkets, with the aim of protecting local commerce, Barcelona’s identity, and its quality of life. We need a balanced commercial model.”
As the city attempts to apply the brakes with its new 200-metre rule, residents and opposition parties remain sceptical, closely watching whether these measures will curb the seemingly unstoppable tide of 24-hour convenience stores.
