From my outsider’s perspective Son Bugadelles has always been an enigma: an industrial estate filled with curious businesses, a television station and the biggest police station I’ve ever seen. But I’ve learnt that it is an Aladdin’s cave of opportunities and if you are searching for a certain service then you will almost certainly find it there: from air conditioning to welding, to sails to tyres to butchers and bakers, but no candlestick makers, at least not yet.
My first stop was Tip Top Toldos which has been on the estate for eight years. The owner, Neil McKendry, and his team supply and fit internal and external blinds, canopies, doors and windows all over the island. The showroom faces out of the industrial estate, looking towards Galatzo, with red flags marking the way. “I always tell customers we are up from the petrol station on the road towards Calvia,“ he says. This time of year the demand for fitting PVC doors and windows is high, but by the spring Tip Top are always to be seen fitting sun blinds for terraces. Before I dash off to my next stop, Neil shows me some very clever internal blinds which are remote-controlled which means there’s no wiring needed, and they operate completely silently, perfect for the more modern-looking house.
Behind Tip Top, across the road on Carrer Illes Balears, is Eurotex. It’s run by David Ramos, a professional painter and decorator. David opened the paint store with his business partner seven and half years ago. “We have many British customers because we speak English and German as well. And we have a lot of wallpaper designs to choose from. You can see any of our books and have the rolls delivered from the mainland two days later.” Eurotex also sends out painting crews if you don’t want to do it yourself, but David is on hand to give the enthusiastic DIY-er advice as well.
Keep travelling up Carrer Illes Balears and you will come across Brit Bites on the right hand side, run by Craig. He stocks a wide range of typically British foods, frozen and cupboard staples as well as cards, wrapping paper and other domestic items. If you’re hankering after pearl barley or want to buy a sack of teabags at a good price, then Brit Bites has them both, and plenty more besides to choose from.
Turn around and head back down to the petrol station, and take a left at the roundabout and you will be on the road Carrer Son Thomas. On one side you see the Gym Illes and directly opposite it you will not be able to miss Hastens. Inside, chatting away in three languages, is Vanessa, who can tell you all about the different types of beds and mattresses they sell. “Hastens is a Swedish brand and Vispring, which we also have, is British. They are both extremely natural products and, therefore, very good for anyone with allergies. Hastens comes with a 25-year guarantee, and Vispring with a lifetime guarantee. You won’t find any better on the island.”
Drive along from Hastens, and take a left up Carrer Valencia and you’ll find Yes We Bike. Run by Oliver Wienrich it’s the only large bike shop in the south west and stocks a staggeringly wide range of different bikes: from the new E Bikes to simple Sit up and Beg bicycles and everything in between. “A bike these days can be as sophisticated as a car,” Oliver tells me, and then goes on to say he works with the German brand Haibike and the WINORA Group. Oliver knows his business and says E Bikes are becoming more and more popular. “E Bikes make you fly, and because you are not so worried about covering a distance you actually use them more.” He also offers repairs and maintenance.
Up the same road, on the left, you will find Knox Design. It’s run by Justine and Bruce Knox with a team of multilingual staff. Knox is a great design showroom for picking up beautiful things for your home but it’s also the headquarters for a thriving interior design and house renovation business. It literally is a “one stop shop” if you want to fit a new bathroom or kitchen or completely reinvent your home. They work all over the island on projects and have a team of their own trades people who they trust to work to the standards which they are famous for.
Come back down Carrer d’Alacant and you will find a business which many Bulletin readers will have used: Webbs International Removals have brought many expats to the island over the thirty years they have been in business. With their unrivalled weekly scheduled service with a 100% on-time record for the past three years, they know that reliability is paramount for their clients. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting some of their drivers and crews then you will find that they are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and courteous. Many of their staff have worked for Webbs for many years and are multi-lingual. In fact, we could go as far as to say they are an institution on the island.
My last stop is at Classic Cars which is on the road behind the police station, Carrer Illes Canarias. Curiously, at the other end of the road there is a herd of sheep grazing, but that’s Majorca for you. Up at the top end of the road, in the direction of Calvia, you will find some very fine classic cars for sale. If you have a hankering for something special, then let them know or maybe try out what they already have in stock.
Son Bugadelles is also famous for its car boot sale every Saturday morning which does affect the opening hours of some of the businesses, so check in advance if you are planning to take a trip there at the weekend. Happy shopping!