Retail shops and pedestrian areas: evolution and adaptation in the coastal city of Malgrat de Mar (Barcelona)

Abstract

The disappearance of traditional downtown shops is one of the main problems affecting urban areas in the twenty-first century. This paper analyzes the evolution of mom and pop stores linking it to the effects of implementing new pedestrian paths and changes in the economic cycle in Malgrat de Mar, a coastal city in Barcelona province. With a qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews and the analysis of socio-economic data and urban planning documents, the paper analyses the factors influencing the closure of stores and the changes on business during the period 2007-2015. The results indicate that, contrary to the local population´s general opinion, urban rehabilitation and pedestrian strategies driven by the City Council have helped to maintain the viability of retail. Other positive factors include the adaptation and specialization of businesses to new consumer preferences.