The Shop

The Espal consists of four distinct zones:
Shop, Office, Warehouse and Bathrooms.
1- Shop: to point out the ceiling with bare bricks and iron beams, the wooden shelves, as well as an old ladder, also in wood, to access the highest shelves, original from the 40s of the twentieth century. The shop area functions as a reception, intended for the display of products, counter and customer and supplier service area.
2- Office: to highlight the window the entire length of the outer wall, which is composed of small glass, framed in wood, the door keeps the same style, they project natural light and they are from the same period. In this space, equipped with office furniture and computers is where the bureaucratic management of the company is processed.
3- Warehouse: with original ceiling; here the bricks and beams are covered. In this space there are two arches with exposed brickwork that support a wooden platform for the storage of lighter items. This area has several shelves and refrigerated cabinets; it is used for the storage and reception of goods.
4- Bathrooms: differentiated and equipped, with an access area, a washbasin and a built-in mirror and a cabinet for hygiene and cleaning products.

Shop History

The shop was founded in the 30s of the last century with the activity of wholesale of food products. On 2nd January 1974, ESPAL continued the work of the entrepreneur Manuel Fernandes Serra. This gentleman, when he decided to retire in 1973, proposed to his son-in-law and two employees, to constitute a limited company, in whose name they should keep the word Serra.
This is how ESPAL – Estabelecimentos Serra Produtos Alimentares, Lda. was born. The new company already had a long history in the area of Wholesale Distribution of Food Products, detergents, tobacco, drinks and many other products, which filled the shelves of the grocery stores and taverns of the time, in an area that covered the Algarve and Baixo Alentejo.
In "Mr. Serra’s" time, besides the inherent activity of wholesale distribution, there was a component linked to industry, with the manufacture and packaging of some regional products, such as figs and sweets, even having a trademark (with his daughter’s name) "Rebuçados Isilda". It had a Coffee Mill, a Dry Cod Warehouse and it was a correspondent of the Pinto de Magalhães Bank, providing among other services, the collection of bills.
The company was set up on 01.01.1974 and its shareholders were Alberto Narciso Guerreiro, Luís José Pires Figueiras and Joaquim Manuel Pires Tereza.

In 1988 this management changed and the shares were acquired by Carlos Alberto Correia Figueiras and Maria de Fátima de Jesus Rodrigues Figueiras.

Products and Services

Wholesale Distribution of Food Products, Detergents, Tobacco, Beverages and many other products.

Business Hours

Contacts

Parish: Loulé (São Sebastião)
Address: Rua Miguel Bombarda 2 – 22 R/C, 8100-746 Loulé
Postal Code: 8100-746 Loulé
963096755
espal@sapo.pt
https://www.loulelocal.pt/Espal

General Data

Main activity: Traditional food and drink retail
Opening Year: 1930
Main Code of Economic Activity (CAE): 46390