An American-style grocery shopping experience and a glimpse into Málaga’s retail future

A brand-new Mercadona, a Costco on the way and a major transformation of Málaga Nostrum. Here’s what I discovered during my first visit, why this supermarket feels different and what we can expect by Spring 2027.

I never thought I would get particularly excited about visiting a Mercadona, but here we are!

This week, on November 5, 2026, I visited the brand-new Mercadona at Málaga Nostrum for the first time and I have to admit, I loved it! Not necessarily because of the products, after all, it’s still Mercadona with many of the same things I’ve been buying since moving to Spain. What impressed me was something much simpler: the space!

As a Mexican-American mami who grew up grocery shopping in California and now living in Málaga, I’ve had to adjust to a few things about shopping in Spain. One of them is the size of most supermarkets. And this new Mercadona? It actually reminded me of shopping back home in the States. But there’s more to this opening than a spacious grocery store. Málaga Nostrum is undergoing a major transformation, with new Costco warehouse scheduled to open in spring 2027 and I couldn’t help wondering how these two very different supermarket giants will coexist.

So, naturally, I did a little digging…

First Impressions: Finally, a Mercadona where I can breathe!

Let me explain something about my usual Mercadona experience. I don’t know if it’s just the ones I frequent, but I feel like i’m constantly navigating a grocery-shopping obstacle course. There are tiny shopping carts coming at me from every direction, people bumping into each other and sometimes even a little traffic jam in the aisles. I’ve literally had to wait in line just to get to a shelf and grab something, not complaining, just painting a picture for those that have never been. Naturally, grocery shopping this way, takes a much longer time.

That’s why walking into this new Mercadona was such a pleasant surprise. The aisles are spacious, the ceilings are high and the entire layout feels open and comfortable. It genuinely reminded me of grocery shopping in the States. One thing that immediately caught my attention was the organization of the store. Most of the refrigerated and fresh-food sections were around the perimeter, while the non-perishable items occupied the middle aisles. That’s a layout I’m very familiar with form some American supermarkets, where you can comfortably navigate a large shopping cart without feeling like you’re about to run someone over. For the first time, I could actually enjoy walking through a Mercadona without feeling rushed or crowded at peak hours! And I wasn’t even there for a major grocery haul!

Coffee before groceries? Yes, Please!

Another little detail that made me smile was the self-service coffee machine near the entrance. Now, this might seem like such a small thing, but I loved it! It brought back memories of my Target shopping trips when I’d grab a Starbucks coffee at their in-store Starbucks before wandering around the store shopping. There’s just something about having a coffee in hand while browsing the aisles that makes shopping feel a little more enjoyable.

Of course, Mercadona isn’t Target and self-service coffee machine isn’t quite the same as having a Starbucks inside the store, but it gave me a little taste of home. The Mercadona also had a dining area where customers can sit and enjoy food purchased from its ready-to-eat section. And this isn’t just a couple of chairs tucked away in a corner. There are tables, seating and even microwave available for customers to heat their meals. Similar to the cafe at some Carrefours. It’s a practical addition, especially for people working nearby who want to grab a quick lunch without going to a restaurant. Or for avid shoppers at Málaga Nostrum who lose track of time and end up at Mercadona starving! Although, they say you end up buying a whole lot more when you are hungry grocery shopping so not sure this will help fill up more carts or not?

Between the coffee, the dining area, the spacious layout and the numerous checkout registers, the experience felt more convenient and thoughtfully designed than the older Mercadona stores I’ve visited.

What makes THIS Mercadona different? Introducing Tienda 9

It turns out that there’s a reason this particular Mercadona feels different. The new store officially opened October 20, 2026, and it’s the first Mercadona in Málaga province to introduce the company’s new Tienda 9 supermarket concept.

According to information published by Mercadona and local news outlets, this is a new generation of stores designed to make grocery shopping easier while improving how employees prepare, organize and restock products.

Here are some interesting figures:

• €4.2 million: investment in the new supermarket.
• 18 new jobs: Positiions created with the opening.
• 20 construction suppliers: Companies involved in building the store.
• approxiametly 4,000 square meters: the size reported for the new supermarket premises.
• up to 10% less energy consumption and 40% less water usage: efficiency savings associated with the new operating model, according to Mercadona.
• €3.7 billion: Mercadona’s planned nationwide investment in rolling out Tienda 9 between 2026 and 2033.

The concept also introduces something called an Obrador Central, a centralized preparation area where various food preparation tasks, including cutting, cooking and packaging, are brought together. The idea is to free up more space for fresh products while making the stores more effective for employees. Mercadona is also introducing updated refrigeration systems, including technology designed to prevent cold air from escaping into the aisles. As someone who’s noticed how chilly certain supermarket aisles can get, that’s certainly a welcomed change!

The company expects to finish 2026 with approximately 60 supermarkets operating under this new consept across Spain. For Málaga, this store is our first opportunity to experience it.

How I actually grocery shop in Spain

Here’s the funny thing, despite how much I enjoyed this new Mercadona, I’m probably not going to become someone who does all her grocery shopping there only. Over the years, I’ve developed a routine that combines several different stores and local businesses. I usually buy my fresh fruits and vegetables from a local neighborhood fruit and vegetable shop. We also have a wonderful local bakery, where I often stop daily for freshly baked bread and other goodies. And when it comes to meat, we’re fortunate to have a really good butcher in town. We often buy meat in bulk there and freeze. For many of our pantry staples and non-perishable items, I usually just go to Carrefour. So my typical Mercadona trip isn’t usually a massive shopping excursion. It’s more about picking up those particular products we like specifically from Mercadona’s brand and can only find there. We all have those random supermarket favorites, right?

During this visit in particular, I decided to buy some meat and skip my usual trip to the butcher, but most of our other groceries had already been purhcased elsewhere.

Another reason I’ve been exploring different supermarets lately is that my local Mercadona is currently being renovated. It’s been a few months since I’ve been able to shop there and we’re expecting it to reopen toward the end of November as the second Tienda 9 concept in Málaga. In the meantime, I’ve been checking out other options around Málaga, like Lidl, Dia, Aldi, Maskom, Hipercor… And I must say, this new Mercadona Málaga Nostrum location has definitely been my favorite Mercadona experience so far.

What was at Málaga Nostrum before Mercadona and Costco?

This is where the story gets really interesting. Málaga Nostrum isn’t a new shopping center. In fact, it has been part of Málaga’s retail landscape for more than two decades. The commercial park opened in 2005, developed by Bogaris and gradually became one of the city’s major shopping destinations. Today, the complex covers more than 82,000 square meters and has historically offered thousands of free parking spaces across its different shopping areas. Over the years, it has been home to a variety of stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, cinemas, along with Málaga Factory, its outlet-shopping destination. But the latest transformation is much more significant than simply adding a couple of new stores.

The building where Mercadona now operates was previously associated with the former Conforama furniture store. That part of the complex was redeveloped to accomidate the new MK2 premium cinemas on the upper level with Mercadona occupying commercial space below. The new cinemas opened in June 2026, featuring 11 premium screening rooms, approximately 1,000 reclining seats and upgraded projection and sound systems.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the complex, the old cinema and bowling alley building was demolished to make room for Costco. According to reporting from February 2026, the demolition involved approximately 1,000 tonnes of iron and steel and 13,000 tonnes of concrete. That’s quite a transformation!!! So rather than expanding into an empty plot of land, Málaga Nostrum is essentially reinventing itself by replacing and repurposing parts of its original commercial and entertainment infrastructure.

Which came first: Costco or Mercadona?

As I walked through the new Mercadona, I couldn’t help wondering, Did Mercadona decide to open here because Costco was coming, or was Costco attracted to an area that already had plans for a major supermarket? After looking into the history, the public timeline offers some interesting clues. Plans for Costco to become a central part of the Málaga Nostrum redevelopment were already being discussed publicly in 2022. In April 2023, Málaga’s municipal planning authorities granted Costco its construction license. Mercadona’s participation in the redevelpment, meanwhile, was publicly confirmed in 2025. That doesn’t necessarily tell us which retailer first negotiated with the property developer behind closed doors. However, based on publicly available reporting, Costco was already a major part of the redevelopment strategy before Mercadona’s arrival was announced.

In other words, the idea of transforming Málaga Nostrum into a much bigger shopping destination was well underway before this new Mercadona opened. And that leads me to an interesting comparision.

Costco vs. Mercadona: Will history repeat itself?

Growing up in Southern California, I was very familiar with Costco. In fact, my family has been shopping there since the Price Club days, before Price Club and Costco mereged. I remember my parents taking us shopping there and I’ve continued to be a Costco member and fan into adulthood taking my kids too. One thing I noticed at several Costco locations I visited in California, was that they were often near traditional supermarkets like Albertsons. Costco would be absolutley packed. I’m talking about lines just to get inside, crowded parking lots and shoppers pushing enormous carts overflowing. Meanwhile, the neighboring traditional supermarket could feel relatively quiet. Of course, this was simply my experience at the locations I frequented, not a universal rule. But now that we’re about to have a Costco practically across from Mercadona here in Málaga, I wonder whether we’ll see something similar.

My guess? Probably not in quite the same way.

For one thing, Spaniards absolutely love Mercadona. The company has built an increadibly loyal customer base, particularly through its private-label products. And unlike Costco, Mercadona doesn’t require a paid membership.

Secondly, this new Costco is expected to be the only location serving Málaga and the Costa del Sol when it opens, meaning it could attract shoppers from a much wider geographical area than the surrounding neighborhoods.

Costco and Mercadona also serve different shopping habits. Costco specializes in larger quantities, bulk purchases, househould essentials, imported products and its famous Kirkland Signature brand.

Mercadona, meanwhile is built around everyday grocery shopping, fresh food and convenient household purchase and now, also ready-made meals.

I can absolutely imagine people doing their monthly bulk shopping at Costco while continuing to visit Mercadona for their weekly groceries.

In fact, that’s probably what my family will do. There may be competition between the two, but there could also be plenty of room for both to thrive. It’ll be fascinating to see how things develop.

What will Málaga Nostrum look like by Spring 2027?

If everything goes according to the current plans, Málaga Norstrum could look considerably different by spring 2027. Costco is expected to open around March or April, although the official timeline remains subject to construction progress and final approvals. And this isn’t going to be a small warehouse.

Beyond Costco and Mercadona, the wider redevelopemnt has already introduced the new MK2 premium cinema complex and additional shops and restaurants.

Plans announced for Málaga Nostrum have also included new family entertainment, dining spaces, solar panels, electric vehicle charging facilities and parking improvements. The broader redevelopment has been reported as an investment exceeding €62 million, with projections of more than 340 jobs associated with the transformation. Thse are development plans and projections, of course, rather than a guarantee that every improvement will be completed by spring 2027.

Still, the vision is clear. Málaga Nostrum is positioning itself as a destination where families can grocery shop, make bulk purchases, watch a movie, have lunch and run errands in one location. And with Costco attracting shoppers from across the Costa del Sol, the commercial park could become an even bigger regional shopping destination.

The one thing I didn’t love: Parking!

Now, before this starts sounding like a love letter to the new Mercadona, I do have one complaint.

The parking situation was frustrating.

I understand that Málaga Nostrum is still under construction, and a considerable section of the parking area was closed off during my visit. Finding an available space took much longer than I expected. And when I finally spotted one, there was another driver who appeared to be heading toward the same spot. I felt a little bad becasue i’m pretty sure they were just as frustrated as I was after circling around looking for parking. Thankfully, I managed to park, but the experience wasn’t exactly relaxing even though this was a weekday morning, not rush hour at all. It’s also quite a contrast to the spaciousness inside the supermarket. You go from struggling to find somewhere to leave your car to walking into this beautiful, open store where there’s plenty of room to move around.

The good news is that parking is a major part of the redevelopment plans and Costco alone will provide hunderds of dedicated spaces.

But, here’s my concern, if parking is already difficult during construction, what will happen when thousands of Costco members start visiting the area? Getting in and out of Málaga Nostrum too is quite frustrating with all the traffic, I can’t imagine how awful the traffic will be come Spring 2027!

Hopefully, the additional facilities, improved access and completion of the construction work will make a significant difference. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on that!

My predictions for Málaga Nostrum in 2027

I’m not a retail analyst, but having spent much of my life shopping in the United States and now raising my family in Spain, I have a few predictions.

First, I think Costco will bring a whole new group of shoppers to Málaga Nostrum. American expacts like me will certainly be excited, but I also think Costco will attract Spanish families and business curious about its membership-shopping model.

Second, Mercadona may actually benefit from being next door. People coming specifically for Costco may decide to stop at Mercadona for smaller grocery purchases or products that don’t make sense to buy in bulk.

Third, parking and traffic flow are going to be major factors in the area’s success. It’s one thing to have two fantastic shopping destinations next to each other. It’s another to make getting in and out of the complex convenient. Hoping they figure out a way to fix that before Spring 2027.

And finally, I think Málaga Nostrum could become a more family-oriented destination. Between the cineams, restaurants, shopping and planned enetratinment options, there will be more reasons to visit beyond simply buying groceries.

Of course, these are just my personal predictions. We’ll have to see how shoppers actually respond once Costco opens.

Is the new Mercadona at Málaga Nostrum worth visiting?

For me, absolutely! If you’re already a Mercadona shopper, you’ll recognize many of your favorite products, but the experience feels noticeably different. I love the spacious aisles, the high ceilings, the layout, the coffee machine and the dedicated area where you can sit down and enjoy a meal. It felt like a small step toward the American-style grocery-shopping experience.

Would I drive all the way across Málaga to shop there every week? For now, yes, until they re-open the second Tienda 9 concept Mercadona location in Campanillas, Málaga. For now, I’m simply happy to see Málaga continuing to grow and welcome new retail concepts while keeping some of its familiar Spanish favorites.

Now, I’m curious: Have you visited the new Mercadona at Málaga Nostrum? Are you looking forward to the Campanillas location opening as a Tienda 9 concept hoepfully by end of month? And do you think Mercadona and Costco will complement each other at Málaga Nostrum?

Planning your visit: Mercadona Málaga Nostrum

Location: Parque Comercial Málaga Nostrum, Calle Jaén, Calle lugo area, 29004 Málaga, Spain.

Opening Date: October 20, 2026.

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 10AM-10PM Holiday and Sunday openings may vary.

Parking: Free parking is available within Málaga Nostrum, although construction may temporarily restrict access to certain areas.

What makes it different: The province’s first Tienda 9 model, spacious aisles, increased fresh-food areas, centralized food preparation facilities, self-service coffee, ready-to-eat-meals and customer seating.

Costco Málaga: Gas station opened October 30, 2026, warehouse opening expected in spring 2027.

For more information, visit the official Málaga Nostrum Mercadona page HERE and for more general Málaga Nostrum informaiton, visit their page HERE.

Xoxo,

Julie

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