Abasto de Buenos Aires
Abasto de Buenos Aires is a landmark Art Deco shopping center in Buenos Aires, converted from the city's former central wholesale produce market.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Abasto de Buenos Aires is a major shopping and entertainment complex in the Balvanera area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The building is one of the city's best-known examples of Art Deco architecture and retains the identity of the historic Abasto district. Its name derives from the Mercado de Abasto, the central wholesale market that occupied the site for most of the twentieth century. In its current commercial form, the property is generally known as Abasto Shopping. The site's history began in the late nineteenth century, when Buenos Aires was expanding rapidly and existing food markets were becoming inadequate for a growing population. The Devoto brothers proposed a new supply market in 1888 on land in Balvanera, close to railway infrastructure and routes connecting the city's producing and consuming districts. The Sociedad Anónima Mercado de Abasto Proveedor, established by former Mercado Modelo traders, acquired the land and the concession. The first covered section opened in 1893. Refrigerated storage and an ice factory were added in the early twentieth century, while a retail annex followed in 1928. Demand eventually exceeded the capacity of the original market. Architects José Luis Delpini, Viktor Sulčič and Raúl Bes designed a substantially larger replacement building, whose construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1934. The structure used reinforced concrete in an innovative way for Argentina and incorporated railway access and underground parking. Meat and fish sales were authorized later, expanding the market's role in the city's food-distribution system. A serious basement fire in 1952 damaged portions of the building. Delpini supervised reconstruction and reinforcement, and a subway-related passage was sealed after officials determined that it had helped spread the fire. The market closed on 14 October 1984 when wholesale activity moved to the Mercado Central outside the city. The former market then stood abandoned for more than a decade. Its cultural importance nevertheless remained strong. The surrounding district is closely associated with tango and with Carlos Gardel, who lived nearby between 1927 and 1933 and became linked to the expression El Morocho del Abasto. The building and neighborhood also appeared in popular culture, including the 1955 Argentine film Mercado de Abasto. In the 1990s, IRSA developed a plan to restore and commercialize the abandoned structure. IRSA acquired the property in 1996 under the leadership of Eduardo Elsztain. Restoration began in January 1997 and sought to preserve the historic exterior while adapting the interior to a contemporary shopping and leisure format. The renovated center opened on 9 November 1998 in a ceremony attended by President Carlos Menem and Buenos Aires Mayor Fernando de la Rúa. Today, Abasto Shopping combines retail, food service, entertainment and family-oriented attractions. Its tenant mix has included Argentine fashion and lifestyle labels such as Akiabara, Cuesta Blanca and Ricky Sarkany, alongside international brands including Adidas, Lacoste and Nike. The complex benefits from its central location and direct proximity to the Carlos Gardel station on Buenos Aires Underground Line B. Its principal differentiation is the combination of a large urban shopping destination with a preserved landmark building and a strong connection to Buenos Aires' market, immigrant, railway and tango heritage.
History
The Abasto site developed in response to the rapid growth of Buenos Aires during the late nineteenth century. Migration and urban expansion increased demand for food distribution, while the demolition of the Mercado Modelo near Plaza Lorea created pressure for a replacement wholesale facility. In 1888, the Devoto brothers proposed a supply market on land in Balvanera that they had acquired in 1875. The location was strategically placed near the Sarmiento railway and between important fruit- and-vegetable-producing areas. Municipal authorities approved the proposal in late 1888 and early 1889. Former traders from the Mercado Modelo organized the Sociedad Anónima Mercado de Abasto Proveedor, which purchased the land and the construction concession. The first covered market section opened on 1 April 1893, with an area of approximately 1,300 square metres. The market initially specialized in wholesale fruit, vegetables and other food products, while meat sales were excluded under the original municipal authorization. Refrigerated storage and an ice factory were added roughly a decade later to meet contemporary hygiene and preservation requirements. As traffic grew, the complex also required more room for horses, carts and other vehicles. A retail annex was built in 1928. The market again became too small for the city's expanding population. Construction of a new building began on 28 December 1931, based on a design by José Luis Delpini, Viktor Sulčič and Raúl Bes. The project was completed in 1934. The new complex covered about 44,000 square metres and included railway access and underground parking. Its reinforced-concrete construction and Art Deco vocabulary made it an important work of Argentine modern architecture. Sales of meat and fish were permitted from 1939, broadening the market's commercial function. A fire began in the basement on 27 November 1952 and continued for several days. Delpini directed repairs and structural reinforcement. Investigators found that a tunnel linked to Buenos Aires Underground Line B had contributed to the spread of flames through a chimney effect. The passage between the subway infrastructure and the market basement was subsequently closed with a masonry barrier. The market remained an important part of urban life and was portrayed in the 1955 Argentine film Mercado de Abasto, starring Pepe Arias and Tita Merello. The wholesale market closed on 14 October 1984 when its activities transferred to Mercado Central, located outside the city. The former market building then remained unused for more than ten years. During this period, the surrounding area continued to carry a strong cultural identity. It is associated particularly with tango singer Carlos Gardel, who lived in the district from 1927 to 1933 and was known by the nickname El Morocho del Abasto. Although the area is officially within Balvanera, Abasto became its commonly used name. Redevelopment proposals emerged in the 1990s. IRSA, the Argentine real-estate company led at the time by Eduardo Elsztain, acquired the property in 1996. The company began restoration work in January 1997, retaining the historic exterior while reconstructing the interior for retail, dining and entertainment uses. The resulting Abasto Shopping center opened on 9 November 1998 at a ceremony attended by President Carlos Menem and Buenos Aires Mayor Fernando de la Rúa. The present complex functions as a major urban shopping center. Its tenants have included Argentine brands such as Akiabara, Cuesta Blanca and Ricky Sarkany, as well as international labels including Adidas, Lacoste and Nike. The site combines shopping, food and leisure with a distinctive heritage setting. Its location beside the Carlos Gardel station on Line B provides direct public-transport access and reinforces its connection to the historic neighborhood. Abasto's identity therefore rests on two linked histories: its former role as the city's central wholesale market and its later life as a restored commercial and cultural landmark.
- 1998
Abasto Shopping inaugurated
[1]The restored shopping center opened on 9 November after a heritage-conscious redevelopment.
- 1996
IRSA acquires the property
[1]IRSA purchased the abandoned building and initiated its conversion into a shopping center.
- 1984
Wholesale market closes
[1]The market moved to Mercado Central outside Buenos Aires and the original Abasto building was closed.
- 1952
Basement fire and structural repairs
[1]A prolonged basement fire led to repairs, structural reinforcement and the sealing of a subway-related passage that had helped spread the flames.
- 1934
Landmark market building completed
[1]The new 44,000-square-metre Art Deco market was completed with reinforced-concrete construction, railway access and underground parking.
- 1931
Construction of the replacement market begins
[1]Work began on the larger building designed by Delpini, Sulčič and Bes.
- 1928
Retail annex added
[1]A retail annex was constructed as the market expanded beyond its original wholesale function.
- 1893
First market section opens
[1]The first covered section of the Mercado de Abasto began operating with approximately 1,300 square metres of covered space.
- 1889
Market company and concession established
[1]The Sociedad Anónima Mercado de Abasto Proveedor acquired the site and the concession to develop the market.
- 1888
Proposal for a central supply market
[1]The Devoto brothers proposed a new wholesale supply market in Balvanera to serve Buenos Aires' growing population and replace capacity lost after the Mercado Modelo's demolition.
Products and positioning
A centrally located Buenos Aires shopping and entertainment destination that combines a broad retail offer with the restored architecture and cultural identity of the former Mercado de Abasto.
Retail · 1998
Abasto Shopping retail galleries
The main commercial offering is a multi-brand shopping environment occupying the restored former market building. The center has hosted Argentine fashion, footwear and lifestyle retailers such as Akiabara, Cuesta Blanca and Ricky Sarkany, together with international sportswear and fashion brands including Adidas, Lacoste and Nike. The tenant mix gives the property a broad mass-market and aspirational retail role rather than positioning it as a single-category specialist.
Food service · 1998
Food and beverage venues
Restaurants, cafés and other food-service venues form part of the shopping center's visitor proposition. This offer extends the property's use beyond transactional shopping and supports its role as an urban leisure destination in the Abasto district.
Entertainment · 1998
Entertainment and family leisure
Abasto Shopping incorporates entertainment and family-oriented leisure uses alongside its retail space. These facilities help position the complex as a destination for extended visits and connect the commercial redevelopment with the building's broader cultural and neighborhood role.
Brand decisions
1996
Convert the former wholesale market into a shopping centerStrategyBackground
The historic market had been vacant since the relocation of wholesale operations in 1984, while the building remained a prominent architectural landmark in the Abasto district.
Action taken
IRSA acquired the property and pursued a redevelopment that retained the historic façade while adapting the interior for retail, food and entertainment uses.
Aftermath
The project culminated in the opening of Abasto Shopping in November 1998, creating a new commercial use for the former market building.
Recent events
- 1998
Abasto Shopping opens after heritage-led redevelopment[1]
Product launch
The renovated shopping center opened on 9 November following restoration of the historic façade and conversion of the interior into a modern retail and leisure complex.
- 1996
IRSA acquires the former market property[1]
M&A
IRSA acquired the abandoned former market and advanced plans to restore its exterior and redevelop the building as a shopping center.
- 1984
The Mercado de Abasto closes after wholesale operations relocate[1]
Other
Wholesale market operations moved to Mercado Central outside Buenos Aires, leaving the historic Abasto building vacant.
- 1934
New Art Deco market building is completed[1]
Other
A larger reinforced-concrete market designed by José Luis Delpini, Viktor Sulčič and Raúl Bes replaced the earlier facilities and established the landmark architectural form associated with Abasto.
- 1893
The original Abasto market opens its first covered section[1]
Other
The first covered section of the Mercado de Abasto opened in Balvanera, beginning the site's long role in Buenos Aires' wholesale food-distribution network.
Sources2 sources
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