The vendors who roast chestnuts and set up their stalls in various locations across Tenerife’s capital each winter have voiced their concerns regarding the measures the Santa Cruz City Council aimed to impose for the awarding of 18 permits for these temporary stalls, which cater to street sales of seasonal goods in public areas. As the sellers conveyed to DIARIO DE AVISOS, the stipulations included, among others, “the acquisition of the kiosks, as this year there was a desire to standardise the appearance of the stalls, along with the hiring of utilities, the requirement to possess a POS (point of sale terminal), or to register as self-employed.”
Those affected, who recently convened with the Councillor for Heritage, Javier Rivero, expressed their discontent with the initially proposed regulations, which prompted them to submit a letter requesting modifications to the rules. According to sources from the group, they were summoned to yet another meeting at the Town Hall yesterday, where “numerous things have changed.” However, the municipal councillor stated that he was “unaware” of this meeting. “I had prior discussions with the vendors before launching this year’s call, which is identical to that of 2023. Therefore, I have no understanding of the reasons for their frustration or about this meeting they reference,” Rivero emphasised.
Nonetheless, following the enigmatic meeting—whose existence some assert while others dispute—the roasters indicated that “the City Council has now altered several conditions and we are no longer mandated to register as self-employed; instead, specific permits will be issued to undertake the activity, akin to previous years.” Moreover, regarding the sales booths, “there will also be no obligation to purchase them; however, they must be well-painted and presentable.”
The only compulsory requirements “are to possess a high-risk food handler’s certificate and to acquire third-party insurance,” added the roasters. They further noted that “in municipalities like Candelaria or La Laguna, there are far fewer regulations imposed on chestnut vendors, as they acknowledge that it is a temporary activity lasting only about three months, which promotes a tradition upheld by many generations. We are not against regulation, but we oppose measures that, ultimately, considering the costs we would incur, would leave us with barely a thousand euros in profit.”
The 18 chestnut stalls allocated by the City Council this year will be situated at Alameda Duque Santa Elena square, Plaza de España, Plaza Santo Domingo; Plaza Weyler; Calle San Sebastián at the junction with Calle José Hernández Alfonso; Calle Álvaro Rodríguez López; Avenida Asuncionistas (facing the Viera y Clavijo park), and Plaza de La Paz.
Additionally, they will be established in the Rambla; Príncipes de España Avenue (opposite the clinic and tram stop); Los Sabandeños Square; Miguel Velázquez Square; Los Majuelos Avenue; Chicharro Square; and Bentagay Street.
