From Bingo to the Stage: Palma's Historic Hall to Be Revived as a Café-Theatre

From Bingo to the Stage: Palma's Historic Hall to Be Revived as a Café-Theatre

Why the vacant building on the Olivar corner is suddenly attracting artists and operators

In Palma people are talking again about the large hall opposite Mercat de l’Olivar. The building, long known as a bingo hall, got a new owner at the end of last year. The purchase price was around 2.4 million euros, and the acquisition took place on December 1. Since then the mood in the neighbourhood has changed: instead of the usual afternoon quiet, one now more often hears phone calls from interested parties asking how they can become part of a new cultural project.

The new owner, an entrepreneur from Santa Margalida, wants to return the building to its cultural past. The building previously served as a theatre and cinema, and at other times even hosted circus performances. That makes the plans plausible: instead of gambling balls, there should be a stage in future, combined with dining — a café-theatre with live formats, music and shows.

The building offers good conditions. Visitors and potential operators noted the surprisingly well‑kept state of the interiors during inspections. A few years ago significant investments were made to convert the building for casino use; the project never opened. It is precisely this substance that now gives hope: a large foyer, robust halls, space for technical equipment and gastronomy.

The fact that the project should not rest solely on the owner's shoulders is shown by the interest. Several Mallorcan and Catalan companies have signalled interest, and operator concepts are on the table. Actors from the regional event scene are also following the project with attention and see a gap in Palma’s offerings: there is a lack of spaces for medium to small formats, places where music, variety and theatre can be closely linked with gastronomy.

The formal steps are currently underway. Changes to the operating licence are required at Palma city hall so that cultural use combined with gastronomy is possible (see When Offices Go to Sleep: Palma's Plan to Revive the Old Town). Such procedures take time; they involve safety, noise rules and accessibility for residents as well as audiences. The new owner emphasises that it is important to him to keep the building in local hands while at the same time developing a programme for an international audience without losing the Mallorcan identity.

For the neighbourhood around Plaza de España and the Olivar market this would mean a noticeable revitalisation (see Palma re-tenders the Mercat de Llevant – Can the supermarket become a true market hall again?). Anyone who strolls past the market stalls on an early January morning knows the sound of vendors calling, the aroma of fried catch or freshly baked bread. A nearby café-theatre could complement this mix: evening performances, a drink before the show, then conversations on the street afterwards. For night owls and culture lovers it would be an additional meeting point outside the usual tourist centres.

Industry insiders welcome the project if it is well conceived. Renowned promoters have made clear that while they do not want to invest themselves, they see the venture as an enrichment for Palma’s venues. It will be important to design a diverse programme, to take technical standards seriously and to nurture the relationship with the neighbourhood.

Concrete recommendations for turning the idea into reality are obvious: transparent dialogues with residents and the city council, a coherent operator concept that involves local talent, and a gradual opening — first test runs, evening programmes with limited seating, then expansion of the technical setup. Acoustic measures and careful gastronomy planning will help avoid conflicts.

What could emerge in Palma might be more than another leisure spot. It would be a place that preserves memories and creates new ones: small shows, singer-songwriters, cabaret on a Wednesday evening, weekend concerts with regional music. For young artists it would open a stage; for regulars a meeting place; for the city a piece of urban culture that need not be loud or elitist.

On the way home, when the streetlights on Passeig Mallorca cast their yellow light on the asphalt and guitar sounds drift from a nearby bar, the image comes quickly: a historic hall, reused, with the smell of coffee and fried squid, lively squares in front and people discussing after the show. Palma needs places like this — and perhaps an old bingo will soon again be a space where stories are told.

Whether the café-theatre will actually come depends now on permits, partners and a viable operator concept. The chances look good; talks are underway and the city seems ready to give this chapter a chance (see Palma plans new exhibition center in Son Ferriol: opportunities, risks and open questions). For the island this would be not only a cultural but also a social enrichment: jobs for technicians, service staff and artists, a new meeting point for locals and visitors alike.

And who knows — perhaps soon one will again hear the clatter of stage workers in the afternoons instead of the empty bingo ball machines. That would be a fine exchange.