The total transformation of the Boqueria Market is postponed until 2029

BarcelonaThe Barcelona City Council announced this Thursday that the works to reform the Boqueria Market will begin at the end of the summer. In this first phase, the public restrooms will be expanded, the central fish island will be renovated, and the lighting in the Boqueria logistics area will be improved. Even so, the works that will most notably redefine Barcelona's largest market will not begin until 2027, postponing the municipal forecast of completing the transformation alongside the renovation of La Rambla.

The technical projects to plan the renovation of the fibrocement roof, the rehabilitation of the market's structure, and the general renewal of the facilities to "maintain and recover the soul of the market" will not begin to be drafted until the end of next year. The facade of Plaça de la Gardunya, the entry point for residents of the Raval neighborhood, will also be remodeled to "improve the connection" with Barcelona's clientele. According to Deputy Mayor Raquel Gil, the new completion date for the works is 2029. All in all, the remodeling will involve an investment of over 12 million euros.

Let the market be a market again

"We want the people of Barcelona to feel La Boqueria is very much theirs again," Gil emphasized. The deputy recalled that the physical renovation of La Boqueria will be accompanied by a new regulation of its offerings in an attempt to reinforce La Boqueria's role as a market and reduce its appeal as a tourist attraction. Thus, a general rule will be approved that will require each stall to offer a minimum of 50% traditional products and a maximum of 50% prepared products.

Although the general ratio currently maintained by the stalls is not far off, the new regulation will primarily serve to control those establishments that have shifted to basing their products on prepared food, offering mainly takeaway food such as juices, paper cones of fried potatoes, and trays of cut fruit. The measure, despite having the approval of 90% of the members of the Market Vendors Association, still needs the go-ahead from the municipal council's plenary session. Furthermore, the regulation will ensure that La Boqueria has stalls for all the specialties that a traditional market should have, from poultry to legumes, colonial specialties, and delicatessen – and regains the title of "market".