The Torre Salses complex has already secured the presence of eight major operators, according to its official website, including Cines Yelmo, Esclat, Sakito, Kiwoko, Fitness Park, Ilusiona, Sprinter, and Maisons du Monde. Furthermore, the commercial sector assumes that brands from the Inditex group (Zara, Pull&Bear, Stradivarious, Oysho, Zara Home) and other chains like H&M, Druni, or Sabateria Casas will relocate or open second stores in the new retail park.
The announcement of the start of construction, advanced by Mayor Fèlix Larrosa last Tuesday, has been met with a mix of resignation and resilience by the merchants of the Eix Comercial, the city's main shopping artery. Eix associations acknowledge that the competition will lead to a loss of customers and brands but advocate for a "stage of adaptation, struggle, and resistance."
“"It is clear that this is not a positive announcement for commerce and the city; the center will empty out. It will obviously affect us commercially, and we will have to rack our brains to make the area more attractive, but for that, we will need support from the administrations."
The president of the Sant Antoni merchants, Mariona Rovira, stressed that the impact of Torre Salses will be "transversal and will expand across all commercial areas of Lleida, not just the Eix". She added that while some large brands might maintain two locations, many other operators will not be able to withstand the increased competition, especially on weekends.
“"We face a stage of adaptation and resistance, but we maintain the conviction that city commerce plays a key role in urban cohesion and, with adequate policies, it will be shown to be essential."
