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Cádiz's 'El Millonario': A Family Legacy for Sale After Decades of History

The emblematic Cádiz business 'El Millonario', founded by Luis Gómez Ruso and continued by his son Ramón Gómez Gallardo, is seeking a new owner after two years of closure.

Interior of 'El Millonario' shop in Cádiz, with old toys and novelty items.
IA

Interior of 'El Millonario' shop in Cádiz, with old toys and novelty items.

The historic establishment 'El Millonario' in Cádiz, founded by Luis Gómez Ruso in 1982 and run by his son Ramón Gómez Gallardo, has been closed and for sale for two years, marking the end of a family era in Cádiz commerce.

Located on Barrié Street, 'El Millonario's' premises remain almost untouched since its closure two years ago, preserving hundreds of items that evoke its rich history. Toys, costumes, wigs, and novelty items hang inside, silent witnesses to a vibrant past awaiting a new chapter.
Ramón Gómez Gallardo, the second generation at the helm of the business, eagerly awaits the sale of the premises that his father, Luis Gómez Ruso, opened in 1982. Despite being retired, Gómez Gallardo is still surrounded by the memories of this emblematic space, a true sanctuary of trinkets and a magical corner of Cádiz's past century.

"My father was a street vendor; wherever there were people, he would go."

Ramón Gómez Gallardo · Owner of 'El Millonario'
The saga of 'El Millonario' dates back to 1950, when Luis Gómez Ruso began selling candies and sunflower seeds from a cart in the La Viña neighborhood. His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen were legendary, as his son recalls: “He would sell the Cathedral if necessary.”
Ramón's father, a true Cádiz hustler, prepared 'arropías' in his backyard and offered them in his itinerant business, especially in the Plaza de Abastos. With the advent of plastic bags, Luis Gómez Ruso adapted his business, selling packaged sunflower seeds wholesale and customizing his own bags with small prizes, demonstrating a forward-thinking vision.
In 1972, Luis Gómez Ruso opened his first formal business, Ultramarinos El Porvenir on Compañía Street. However, the family soon returned to its roots, focusing on nuts and sweets. A chance encounter with a novelty item dealer from Llobregat transformed the business, introducing itching powder, mini firecrackers for cigarettes, and invisible ink, which quickly became popular.
The Cádiz Carnival became a key driver for 'El Millonario', which specialized in costumes and accessories for the Cádiz festivities. This experience in the world of jokes and toys prepared Ramón Gómez to take over the second family business on Barrié Street in 1982. After his father's death in 1993, Ramón Gómez Gallardo solidified his reputation as a prominent figure in Cádiz commerce.