There’s one Spanish supermarket brand that’s heavily rumoured to make its debut in the Algarve, but the retail park’s management is keeping mum for now
The Nova Vila Retail Park officially opened today (May 29) in Portimão, breathing new commercial life into a site which had been abandoned for over a decade after a massive fire destroyed a previous retail park in 2012.
With over 23,000 square meters, 16 stores, and the creation of more than 200 direct, year-round jobs, the new retail park was originally due to open two years ago but was set back by several “unexpected delays”.
In a way, the new commercial hub is a spiritual successor to the Portimão Retail Park, raising from its ashes with many of the same stores that had previously called it home.
“Many of these stores had to find solutions and move into smaller stores. Leroy Merlin is a great example, having built a store in the centre of town which was too small. Now, they have returned in a store three times bigger,” said Enzo Guidez, Mitiska REIM’s head of operations in Portugal, at the pre-inauguration ceremony on Wednesday (May 28). In turn, the store now left vacant by the DIY brand in Portimão will be “occupied by other brands, bringing further new offerings to the town,” he added.
Other brands that are making their return to the site are Rádio Popular and Hôma (previously De Borla), which are joined by brands like Action, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Tienda Animal, and Kik.
However, one big question mark continues to hang over the retail park – the identity of the large supermarket which is set to open there.
“We’ve made a decision on the brand, but I can’t say who it is, it’s the gods’ secret,” said Guidez. “We’d rather take the loss of leaving it empty for a few months than settle for something that already exists in the region.”
In other words, the only confirmation is that it will be a brand that does not yet exist in Portimão or the Algarve. However, strong rumours have circulated for months that it is Spanish retail heavyweight Mercadona. Whether this proves to be true is something that no one is confirming yet.
Several other businesses are due to open in the coming weeks, from fast food giant Burger King to a Café Delta and a Prio petrol station, as well as electric vehicle charging stations from Powerlot. Several other brands are still finalising their interiors and expected to be fully operational within two months, the retail park’s operator announced.
One of the most striking contrasts between the new retail park and its ill-fated predecessor is the level of attention paid to safety and construction standards.
“This is not the same type of construction,” Guidez underlined. “The materials are completely different. The wall panels, the fire doors – even the structural framework – everything has changed.” Several stores are now equipped with sprinkler systems, and fire prevention infrastructure has been brought up to today’s far more stringent standards.
At the same time, sustainability has also become a cornerstone of the design. From smart lighting systems in the parking lot to digital energy meters in every store, and contracts requiring tenants to reduce CO₂ emissions, the retail park has been conceived as a resilient and future-ready commercial hub. The retail park even features bird and insect “hotels,” as well as a rainwater collection tank and LED lighting throughout the car park. Other investments, such as the installation of solar panels, are underway, explained Alexander Murch, head of investments at Mitiska REIM, which owns the park.
This is Mitiska’s eighth retail project in Portugal, following a similar opening in Alverca last year. The group now manages over €200 million in assets and plans to grow further across the country.
Local mayor celebrates comeback
Portimão mayor Álvaro Bila attended the ceremony on Wednesday, thanking the developers for “believing in the project and choosing Portimão,” particularly a site that was abandoned.
“These are the kind of projects that every municipality needs, not just Portimão. It will bolster the economy,” he said.
Located just off the EN125 road, about 3 km from the centre of Portimão, Nova Vila Retail Park includes 832 free parking spaces and easy access to the A22 motorway. The name — a nod to “Vila Nova de Portimão,” the city’s 15th-century title under King Afonso V — is also reflected in the architecture, which borrows from traditional Algarvean design with simple white façades and clean lines.
