Under the slogan "Río de la Plata is not a restaurant. It is part of Zaragoza," the website https://salvemoselriodelaplata.com/ aims to give a voice to those who have spent years having breakfast, enjoying an aperitif or sharing after-lunch conversations at this establishment in Plaza Roma. For many of them, what is at stake is not only the future of a hospitality business, but also part of the neighborhood's history and daily life.
The mobilization comes at a decisive moment for the establishment. On January 1, 2027, the lease it has held with Mercadona, the property's owner, for 26 years will expire. The Valencian chain has already informed its manager, David Salvador, that it does not intend to renew it, as it plans to incorporate the 135 square meters occupied by the bar into its supermarket as part of the "Tienda 9" modernization project.
SIGNATURES AND MEMORIES TO SAVE A PIECE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORY
What began with messages of support on social media and expressions of affection from regular customers has ended up becoming a citizens' campaign with its own website. Through it, anyone can add their signature to call for Río de la Plata to remain open, without making any financial contribution.
But the initiative goes beyond collecting signatures. The platform also allows visitors to explore the business's history from its beginnings in 1969, view photographs of the establishment and share personal memories on a testimonial wall where customers explain what the bar means to them. All of this is based on one central idea: preventing the disappearance of a traditional business from also meaning the loss of part of the neighborhood's identity.
The Río de la Plata establishment occupies a 135-square-meter premises owned by Mercadona. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
"We are not saving a premises. We are protecting part of Zaragoza's memory," the platform says, highlighting the value of establishments that, over the years, become much more than places to eat or have a drink.
Some places end up becoming part of the personal history of those who visit them. A first date, a family meal, a coffee before going to work or the Sunday aperitif that is repeated almost without thinking. For many Plaza Roma residents, Río de la Plata is precisely one of those places. "If it goes, there will be nothing to match it, an iconic place. My favorite place for 20 years," writes one of the people who wanted to record their affection for the business.
There are also those who do not usually live in Zaragoza but have made Río de la Plata an essential stop whenever they visit the city: "I have been to all the bars and restaurants in the area, and Río de la Plata is my favorite," says one customer, praising its staff, menus and terrace. These are just some of the testimonials reflecting the deep roots of an establishment that has been part of Zaragoza's hospitality scene for more than half a century and now finds its main defenders among its own customers.
ALMOST 30 YEARS OF WORK AND 16 FAMILIES AWAITING ITS FATE
Behind this neighborhood mobilization is also a family story that began long before Río de la Plata arrived at Plaza Roma. It was in 1969 that David Salvador's parents began their careers in the hospitality industry at 3 Royo Urieta Street. Three decades later, in 2000, the business moved to its current location, where it eventually became one of Delicias' best-known establishments.
Since then, its breakfasts, lunches, aperitifs, meals and dinners have accompanied several generations of Zaragoza residents. Its torreznos, omelets and croquettes are among the specialties that have helped build a loyal clientele. However, the establishment's future remains uncertain. As David Salvador told Aragón Digital last June, Mercadona's decision could directly affect multiple families who depend on the business. "The benefit Mercadona can obtain from this expansion is not proportional to the harm it could cause to 16 families," the hotelier lamented at the time. He also said he had made significant investments in the premises over the years, trusting that he would be able to continue operating.
While acknowledging that the chances of reversing the decision through legal means were very limited, Salvador made clear his intention to continue seeking a solution. "If the time comes when I have to leave, I will leave, but I will not go without fighting. It is almost 30 years of work," he said.
