Urban Kiosks in Palma: Pastel Yellow, Abandoned — and Closing at the End of September

Five Kiosks, Much Frustration: Palma Says Goodbye

The small, pastel yellow houses with the dark green roofs had only returned to Palma's squares since October 2024. Now, they are set to finally lower their shutters at the end of September 2025. Five locations — Plaza de España, Plaza del Mercat, Plaza Joan Carles I, and two other central squares — will lose a familiar corner for quick coffee, morning newspapers, and brief chats with the vendors.

Why So Soon Again?

The answer is unremarkable yet aggravating: Money. The operators report accumulated losses of around 130,000 euros. This sounds like bureaucracy and balance sheets; for the locals, it means less choice in the square, fewer working hours — and for some regular customers, simply less sense of daily life.

A central point of contention: The town hall reportedly prohibited the sale of hot drinks and did not approve the installation of ATMs. For many of the kiosks, these would have been additional, reliable sources of income. Without them, the business apparently does not add up.

Everyday Life That Will Be Missed

Anyone walking across the Plaza de España in the morning knows the feeling: a quick espresso, a croissant, someone unfolding the newspaper. I was there last Thursday — it smelled of oven warmth and exhaust diesel (yes, that's how the city is in some corners) — and the vendor, let's call her María, told me about customers who came specifically because they could buy their beer right there, or because the kiosk was a meeting point for the neighborhood.

The closure, therefore, affects not only business people but also small rituals: suppliers, local newsstands, tourists asking for a map, and older people regularly picking up stamps.

What Now?

Officially, the end of the leases means the end. Whether there will be subsequent uses — such as pop-up stands, private operators, or relocations to other places — is still open. A spokesperson at the town hall announced plans to assess the situation; he did not provide specific plans.

In the meantime, the question remains: Wouldn’t small changes (hot drinks, an ATM, flexible hours) have been a simple solution? Or does Palma need a new concept for public sales points that is financially more sensible and closer to the needs of the residents?

A Small Loss for the City

It seems trivial to complain about a few kiosks when bigger problems loom. Yet, precisely these corners contribute to Palma's urban landscape. When you walk across the plaza in the morning and suddenly miss one of these corners, you realize how much small things contribute to the big picture. At the end of September, the city will feel a bit quieter — and a little less yellow.