Santa Cruz Retailers Clash Over Sunday Opening Hours Amid E-commerce Surge
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is debating the deregulation of business hours as local retailers struggle to compete with the city's high volume of daily online parcel deliveries.
Changing shopping habits in Santa Cruz de Tenerife have sparked a debate that goes beyond local politics: can physical stores survive in an era dominated by online shopping? Recent reports show that the capital sees 20,000 parcel deliveries every day, totaling nearly half a million monthly transactions that bypass traditional shops. This shift has prompted large retailers to push harder for the total deregulation of business hours.
The situation is at a turning point. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez wants to increase the number of permitted shopping holidays to 12, a change that requires approval from the regional government. The Association of Medium and Large Distribution Companies (Asodiscan) sees this as a necessary step toward full deregulation—a goal they have pursued since 2011. However, small business owners, represented by the group Zona Centro, warn that this would create an unfair playing field they cannot compete with.
The two sides have very different views. Asodiscan’s secretary, Alfredo Medina, argues that the old divide between large and small stores is no longer relevant because online retail is the real competitor. From this perspective, opening on Sundays is a defensive move to keep customers from turning to digital platforms. Conversely, Zona Centro manager Carlos Sabina insists that local businesses need more support and dialogue, arguing that they lack the staff and funds to stay open seven days a week without risking their survival.
The conflict is now heading to the Trade Board, where officials will decide whether to expand the "Large Tourist Influx Zone" (ZGAT). Currently, this designation—which allows stores to open on Sundays—is limited to the city center, excluding the large retail hubs in the Cabo Llanos area. The final decision will not only shape the future of shopping in the capital but will also test whether the local government can balance supporting small businesses with the demands of a 24/7 global market.