Gentrification, the battle for the center of Madrid

Christmas 2014 was the last for many traditional establishments in the central Fuencarral street. The moratorium of the Urban Leasing Law ended the old rents, which allowed modest businesses to be in a privileged area. One of them was Bazar Matey, opened in 1931 and specializing in model trains, which had to move as it could not pay rent 10 times higher.

Now, a franchise of fashion and ethical products occupies the showcase to which several generations stuck their noses to see unique locomotion pieces. “Once, Galerías Preciados came to buy an exhibited model to give it to Prince Felipe, but I said no, it would give me more money to have it here,” recalls Fernando, the second generation of this business that began as a toy store and will be continued by his daughter Lorena. , now in front of the web.

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From his new store on Calle Santísima Trinidad, larger and with space for workshops, he talks about the end of an era. "Now, as they ask for brutal rentals, there are only multinationals, which go to volume, not like us, who are dedicated to small sales", explains Fernando. "One of the new owners told me that they didn't make money, but they have to be by brand and to compete with other chains."