The Madrid City Council has announced direct grants of up to 10,000 euros for the 25 traders at Usera Market, which has been closed for weeks due to serious structural problems. The delegate for Economy, Engracia Hidalgo, has confirmed the plan for individualised support.
The 25 traders at Usera Market now know how much money they will receive to get out of the predicament. The Madrid City Council has approved a line of direct grants of up to 10,000 euros per stall to alleviate the forced closure of the historic building, which was shut down after serious damage to the structure was detected during works to install a gourmet space on the upper floor.
Express grants for relocation and adaptation
The delegate for the Government area of Economy and Finance, Engracia Hidalgo, explained that the aim is to provide financial support that allows those affected to cope during this period without activity. The plan includes individualised follow-up of each case to understand the specific needs of each trader.
The money will be used to pay for the relocation of stalls, adapt to a new premises, or cover expenses arising from the closure. Some traders, according to Hidalgo, are already choosing where to go, how to go, and in what way to go.
We are processing an extraordinary direct grant for the 25 affected traders, with a maximum amount of up to 10,000 euros per trader.
The measure has been received with relief but also with scepticism among the residents of the Moscardó neighbourhood, where the market is a traditional meeting point. Gema Martínez Acicoya, a resident of the district, expressed it this way: “It’s a shame that no investment was made earlier and they let this market die.”
A closure that drags on with no reopening date
The structural problems arose when works were being carried out to install a gourmet space on the upper floor. Technicians detected cracks and deficiencies in the structure that forced immediate closure to avoid endangering traders and customers. Since then, the market has remained empty with the shutters down.
For now, there is no date for reopening. Everything depends on the progress of the repair works, which have not yet begun. The City Council has not detailed the budget or the timeline for these, leaving traders unsure of when they will be able to sell again.
For the residents, the uncertainty is twofold: losing a place with decades of history and being left without a local service. Usera Market, inaugurated in the 1960s, is a symbol of the neighbourhood and its closure has generated discontent among residents, who are calling for an urgent solution.
What happens now with the traders?
The affected traders have until the publication of the call in the Official Bulletin of the City Council, expected in the coming days, to apply for the grants. The council has promised to expedite the procedures so that the money arrives as soon as possible. Each trader will need to present a viability plan and justify their expenses.
In the meantime, some are already looking for alternative premises in the area to avoid losing their clientele. The Usera Traders Association has asked the City Council to also expedite the opening licenses for those who need to temporarily relocate.
The news comes at a delicate time for small businesses in the district, which have already been struggling due to competition from large retailers and online commerce. The 10,000 euros, while welcome, do not cover the losses from months without invoicing, according to sources in the sector.
The next step will be a meeting between the traders and municipal technicians to assess the state of the building and set a timeline for the works. In the meantime, residents hope that the market will reopen its doors before the end of the year. For now, silence and the lowered shutters are the only image this emblematic place offers.
You may also like
