I'm a big proponent of Alcampo and Carrefour. They're great Wal-Mart alternatives. They're all over the place. Just ask around. Or tell us what part of the city you're living in and I'm sure somebody here on the board will be able to hook you up.... Good luck!!
poseso.... Tony --- English Unlimited... Un ambiente para aprender ingl�s... (An English Learning Environment)
Posts: 656 | Location: Madrid (Kansas City, USA) | Registered: 06 November 2001
Hey darcyb, tonytorero is right on the money with his suggestions.
The website for Alcampo is at www.alcampo.es and you can click the "TIENDAS" link and then the "busca tu h�per" link to choose Madrid on the map.
The ones in the city are all pretty easy to get to via Metro.
There is also a cheezy store called "SEPU" on Gran V�a right near the "Gran V�a" Metro stop but on the North side of the street (across from Madrid Rock and down a bit). They have loads of stuff that is pretty cheap and it reminded me of Kmart the first time I walked in.
Hey gang, you can cross SEPU off the list of KMart type places to shop after Oct. 15th. The oldest dept. store in Madrdi that used to have over 1,000 employees now has 80 left and is going under. It closes officially on the 15th or maybe even sooner if all the merchandise sells sooner.
EVERYTHING is currenty 50% off so get out there and shop,shop, shop!
Speaking of places to shop, is there still a store in Madrid, I don't remember the exact location, but it's called Galaria Preciado?? I would have to say if I remember corectly it's equivalent to a JC Penny's or Dillards in the US.
My grandmother would take me there while on vacation and the big shopping item for me was the shoes. I would always buy a cute pair of, how would you describe as ballerina shoes with the bow on top. Mi abuela would tell me that all the senoritas my age was wearing them.
Caroline: That store still is in the same place, calle Preciados, between Plaza de Callao and Puerta del Sol. However, it is now part of a French chain named FNAC. Jer can elaborate on this since he's nearby. Right, buddy?
Saludos,
Rafa
Posts: 35 | Location: Miami, FL USA | Registered: 23 May 2001
Hey Carolina, wow, it HAS been a while since you have been in Spain.
Rafa is pretty close but actually, Galer�as Preciados which was the biggest dept. store in Spain is now the MEGA purely Spanish monster called "El Cort� Ingl�s".
The Fnac is indeed a French chain but they only have 2 or 3 stores in all of Spain (1 in Madrid and 2 in Barcelona) while the former Galerias Preciados were bough out by "El Corte Ingl�s" in the early 80s (not sure of the date ) and "El Corte Ingl�s" has at last 100 stores in all of Spain.
Read the page at http://www.g21.net/best2.html for a great first hand account of the Galer�as Preciados vs Corte Ingl�s deal
Just a quick history class. Back in the early 80s Galerias Preciados formed part of the Rumasa group. At the time Rumasa group was owned in whole by Jose Maria Ruiz-Mateos and his family. He was without doubt (and officially) the richest person in Spain. The Rumasa group had somewhere between 200 and 700 companies (depending who you listen to) from constuction, banks, transportation to wine.
The new PSOE goverment of 82 lead by Felipe came up with two great ideas the GAL and the end of Rumasa. They made up some law and took over the company within three months of coming into power. The then sold off all the parts at knock down prices. Strangely lots of their political supporters were able to buy the banks within 24 hours of the takeover at next to nothing prices. Among the things sold off was Galerias.
Since losing his company Ruiz-Mateos has been chased aroung with made up charges and been put in prison. He appears to be succesful in his court cases against the Spanish state regarding the theft of his assets even though he has not been compensated. Doesn't help that he refuses to stay quiet and constently demands justice and of course that with Nuevo Rumasa he is on his way to former glory. He is the owner of Rayo Vallecano, his wife being the president (that woman on TV who is generally asleep). The minister reponsable for much of the selling off of Rumasa was the Minister of Economy Miguel Boyer who later married the former wife of Julio Iglesias thus becoming stepfather of Enrique.
Later of course Corte Ingles took over the Galerias group from the new owners.
Did the taken-over Galerias Preciados operate under the original name for a while? They were in business when I was a student in '87-88. In fact, I still have a Galeria Preciados shopping bag that contains some of my souvenirs.
"An honest man is always a child" - Socrates ...no wonder I'm so immature!
Galerias did keep its name until about 1996. After being sold on to a Venezuelan group it was sold on to a British group (I think). In 1995 when Galerias was at a very low point Corte Ingles took over. At last they got control of their eternal rival thanks to more 'favores' from good old Mr Boyer. The quickly put green triangles over all the old galerias which still had many prime sites.
I have heard that galerias was the favorite of Franco and that the PSOE with their 'democratic' ideals masterminded it's fall (and made a few pesetas for themselves ).
Saludos,
Ian
Posts: 46 | Location: Madrid Spain | Registered: 05 September 2002
Hey notsew, my first visit to Spain was my Masters year abroad here in 1996 and it was purely "El Cort� Ingl�s" at the time. I must have arrived right after the name changeover.
Good to have veterans who have lived here much longer to give us these great tidbits of info
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
) and "El Corte Ingl�s" has at last 100 stores in all of Spain.
