The Spanish may not have managed to persuade the British to leave Gibraltar but UK retailer Marks & Spencer Plc finally pulled out of Madrid on Saturday.
By lunchtime security guards at the store were turning away shoppers hoping for last minute pre-Christmas bargains after it shut early on its final day.
The British retailer decided in March to close down its loss-making operations in Europe to concentrate on making a sustainable recovery at home.
"I'm so disappointed. The biscuits were nice," said 22-year-old Ana, standing outside the store. "It had a good image in Spain," added her friend Alicia.
Freezing temperatures meant not many people lingered outside but some of those who did seemed less than impressed by the shop's clothing range and prices.
"I used to go in London when I lived there but here it was too expensive,"said Rosa, dressed in a full-length fur coat.
M&S said last month it would sell its nine Spanish stores to the country's biggest retailer, the privately owned El Corte Ingles.