The arrival of this large department store brought a radical change in the way Alicantinos shopped, shifting the commercial hub from the Traditional Center to the Maisonnave area, which at the time was an industrial zone and is now known as the
provincial golden mile
In 1974, the plot occupied by the Chapí cinema at number three on Soto promenade was chosen to erect an imposing 30,000 square meter building, with several floors and underground parking. Galerías Preciados, founded in 1943, arrived in Alicante after decades of success in other Spanish cities, establishing itself as a commercial benchmark.
For nineteen years, until July 1995, Galerías Preciados was a nerve center in the city, until it was absorbed by El Corte Inglés. Despite the national financial problems suffered by the company from the 1980s onwards, in Alicante it maintained its relevance, without direct competition until the arrival of El Corte Inglés in 1989.
“"We never stopped getting paid, not even when the stores belonged to Rumasa of Ruiz-Mateos: that was one of the best times, without a doubt."
Galerías Preciados was a pioneer in its wide range of products and its sales, which generated long queues at the door. Offers for
early birds
with quality products at reduced prices, attracted customers from early morning. It was also a key place for buying electronic products and knew how to attract young people with concerts and the possibility of listening to vinyl records with headphones.
Its arrival signified a paradigm shift in consumption, turning shopping into a form of leisure. Air conditioning, escalators, and parking offered an unprecedented shopping experience. Many of its 326 employees at the time of its closure in 1995, fondly recall the good working conditions and close treatment with customers, which made Galerías a special place.
