Rome’s Traditional Shops Struggle: A Third Closed in Six Years Due to High Rents
Rome’s traditional retail landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with a third of its shops having closed down over the last six years. A recent study by Unioncamere indicates that between 2019 and 2025, the commercial sector has been the hardest hit, experiencing a contraction of 22.9%, equivalent to eleven businesses closing daily. This negative trend is particularly pronounced in retail, with 1,900 businesses disappearing in 2024-2025 alone. Despite major events like the Jubilee and the PNRR initiatives, which primarily benefited tourism and real estate, local businesses continue to suffer.
Why Are Traditional Shops Disappearing?
Romolo Guasco, director of Confcommercio Roma, attributes these closures to several key factors:
- Changing Consumer Habits: The rise of online shopping has significantly impacted traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
- Reduced Spending Power: People’s decreased purchasing capacity further strains local businesses.
- High Rents: Exorbitant rental costs in attractive areas make it unsustainable for small businesses to maintain profitability.
The consequence is a proliferation of large international chains, take-away services, and organized catering, at the expense of historic establishments. Guasco emphasizes that Rome’s original commercial identity is being lost, calling for precise political decisions to modify national and regional laws and regulations.
What Solutions Are Being Proposed?
Confcommercio Roma advocates for specific measures to safeguard traditional and independent businesses:
- Financial Support: Providing assistance with operating expenses.
- Commercial Planning: Allowing local administrations to plan commercial offerings, especially within the UNESCO World Heritage site, by setting higher standards.
- Experiential Marketing: Encouraging shops to offer unique experiences, well-trained sales staff, clear merchandise presentation, and added value to counteract e-commerce dominance.
Valter Giammaria, president of Confesercenti, highlights the unfair competition from large online platforms that often avoid paying taxes, unlike Italian entrepreneurs who pay 55% in taxes.
The Rise of Circular Economy and Quality Production
Andrea Rotondo, president of Confartigianato Roma, sees the success of vintage markets as an opportunity to delve into the circular economy, focusing on repair, reuse, and responsible resource management. He believes that the future belongs not to those who produce more, but to those who produce better in terms of quality, durability, respect for resources, training, and the relationship between tradition and innovation.
Impact on Rome’s Neighborhoods
The closure of these traditional shops not only affects the economy but also impoverishes the character and community of Rome’s neighborhoods. The shift away from local businesses changes the social fabric and cultural identity of the city.
Additional Resources and Related News:
- Corriere Roma Newsletter: Subscribe for weekly updates on the capital.
- Unioncamere Study: Detailed analysis of commercial sector trends in Italy.
- Confcommercio Roma: Information on initiatives and support for local businesses.
- Confesercenti Roma: Insights into the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Confartigianato Roma: Resources and advocacy for artisanal businesses.
For further information or to report issues, please contact the relevant business associations or the Rome City Council.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_febbraio_09/a-roma-soffrono-i-negozi-tradizionali-negli-ultimi-sei-anni-un-terzo-ha-chiuso-affitti-troppo-alti-11dce67d-d050-4ec9-9b16-1f18a64c6xlk.shtml
