Well the city is very well known having even lived there for 4 years and visited almost every year since 1990. However, touristic places abound I will deal with a new subject that can ,also help some visitors as well. As we all need to shop someday and even browse the goodies of the country/city we visit and many times not having enough time to seek these needed things while indulging in our sightseeing, let me tell you about my favorite shopping center mall La Vaguada in Madrid proper. I am updating this older post with fresh text, links and old same pictures. . Hope you enjoy it as I.
I have come here practically since it opened, and then came back to bring my girlfriend from France,and later my dear wife Martine (RIP),and my boys, and now young men. These places are nostalgic and sentimental for us as my dear wife passed away in 2018 and she love to come here as all related to shopping. Oh no she was a good buyer indeed. Hoping to have learned some shopping habits from her. I did! However, let me go into happier themes, and tell you about the Centro Comercial La Vaguada (mall). It is located at Avenida Monforte de Lemos,30, metro Barrio del Pilar line 9 is the closest by far, but you can do Herrera Oria line 9 as well. Shopping center with all you need in one stop shopping plus great movies! Many bus lines passed by here or close, I know of 83. The shopping center entrance is by the Avenida de Monforte de Lemos and Avenida de la Ilustración. The mall is as the metro station in the neighborhood of Barrio del Pilar , district of Fuencarral-El Pardo. The mall was the first shopping center that opened in Madrid!
A bit of history I like tell us that it was the Frenchman Jean Louis Solal, the father of shopping centers in Europe, who had the occurrence of choosing Madrid to expand, since there was no commercial area of that size in Spain. He chose some land northwest of Madrid, almost outside, owned by José Banús, known for the port of Marbella that bears his name and also for having built the Valle de los Caidos . Banús had built the neighborhood during the 1960s in a flood style, with large towers a short distance from each other, and had become one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. In 1973 ,José Banús sold the land where the commecial center was to be built. Jean Louis Solal, immediately thought of Canarian César Manrique, an artist well known for his work in Lanzarote and that in 1981 was at the height of his career: He was the ideal person, because Manrique was related to environmentalism and nature , his work mixes architecture and vegetation, which is basically what the promoters and the city/town hall wanted, and the French considered that their media pull would help change public opinion. It did!!!
The offer of fifty-six jobs to unemployed of the neighborhood and the promise that part of the space was dedicated to the construction of the cultural center, the library, the municipal swimming pool, the health center and the park of the Vaguada resolved to a great extent the conflict. It has integrated natural environments inside the building such as resting areas with waterfalls and fountains and natural light entrance from the ceiling. It was inaugurated on October 24th, 1983 with great fanfare. In 2008, the shopping center La Vaguada went through an important and controversial remodeling in which the new logo was fixed, the name was shortened (which previously was «Centro Comercial Madrid 2 La Vaguada» (as I knew it first) ,and the marquée of the main entrance was added, among other changes.
A bit on the construction on the inside layout as well ok. It is a rectangular building with 5 floors. Two of them, under ground , configure the parking (for 3600 vehicles), while the other three have the commercial area, in which highlights the vegetation through the use of hanging gardeners with a traditional market, in addition to various anchor stores, such as department stores and hypermarkets. In addition, it has pharmacy, tobacconist, post office,and on the terrace are the cinemas and most of the catering/restaurant offer.
Inside La Vaguada you can find around 250 shops spread over three floors. Yes, Alcampo (Auchan in France), C&A and Mc Donald’s, the deans of the place, were there from the beginning. Of course, having Alcampo, El Corte Inglés, the local sporting goods store Decimas, Yves Rocher, Sephora, Lego, Disney Store, Cortefiel, Orange stores as well as 100 Montaditos, TGIFridays, VIPS, Casa Carmen, Cañas y Tapas restaurants is a bonus!
The official Alcampo supermarket in Vaguada: https://www.alcampo.es/empresa/tienda/vaguada
The shopping center is divided into several areas: the commercial, the catering, the leisure, cinemas and the hypermarket. But what really differentiates this mall from others is the feeling of happiness that intoxicates you when you are in it. La Vaguada is one of the most visited shopping centers of Madrid People view the center thanks to the services it offers, which are unique. For example, each Sunday offers concerts in its facilities. In addition the shopping center is thinking for everyone and after a hard day of shopping with their parents the little ones can enjoy in the playroom or Ludoteca or in the Soul Park enabled to delight the little ones. Indeed a wholesome family affair and for the visiting families as well; recommended. My Dad below in Cañas y Tapas resto now resto gone, memories!!!
The La Vaguada is one of those works, such as the Torre de España, which are not jewels of architecture but are enlarged over time. It may not happen to the history of architecture, but it is undoubtedly a milestone in the sociological history of Madrid. The sidewalk of the Calle de Monforte de Lemos, the street where the commercial center is located, is the busiest in the neighborhood. It is the town square!! Indeed!
The La Vaguada mall appears repeatedly in the work of Fernando San Basilio, both in his novels my great novel about the Vaguada “Mi gran novella sobre La Vaguada” and “El joven vendedor y el estilo de vida fluido” , and the story of “El principio Dios creo La Vaguada” (at first God created the Vaguada).
The official La Vaguada shopping center stores : https://enlavaguada.com/tiendas
The Madrid tourist office on La Vaguada shopping : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/shopping/la-vaguada
There you go folks, a little shopping in Madrid off the beaten path, a bit away from the touristic centro/center but well worth the visit if shopping is in your mind and kids alone the ride;mine enjoy it still today. La Vaguada is one of those spots , one is never tired of visiting while in town.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 