The end of another store with history in the heart of Lisbon

The day is soap opera. Spring recently arrived, but it seems that people have already tidyed off coats. We are at Rossio, one of the nevralgic centers of the capital. It’s past lunch time, D. Pedro IV Square is full and what does it fall well after the meal? A beautiful ginjinha. In fact, this is the perfect zone to enjoy it, in one of the three best known houses in Lisbon: Espinheira, in number 8 of Largo São Domingos; Ruby, at 27 of Barros Queirós Street and without rival, at 7 of Rua das Portas de Santo Antão. At the door of each of them, a flood of people are delighted with the liquor Lisbon.

The Portuguese go to the counter and drink it from one bring, as if it were syrup. Nor need to place the order. As soon as they enter, the glass is placed on the table. Foreigners, on the other hand, bring it to the street and gradually delight their lips, as if they wanted to do the experience.

«It’s really wonderful!»says Jack, in front of Ginjinha without rival. « It’s a traditional thing and this was undoubtedly a mandatory point »continues the English that is passing through the city. «It is strong, but very sweet»points. Standing, near the door, Maria and her three friends have already finished her glass. Came from Galicia. «My father worked here in Lisbon. It was a crate and we came to live to Portugal for a few years. He came here to take his Ginjinha. I had been with him since I was a little girl »says with your Galician accent. Two years ago I had not visited the no rival and, unfortunately, this may be the last time it finds the house open as the centenary space founded in the late nineteenth century is at risk of closing.

Kill a historical place

According to Nuno Gonçalves – one of the two managers of the store and great -grandson of founder João Lourenço Cima -, the owner of the building bought has been significantly a year and a half wants to do works at the hotel and does not intend to renew the store’s lease agreement. “The other media have said the building was sold to make a hotel and that we have an eviction action. No! The hotel already exists. We receive a letter to oppose the renewal of the contract. In fact, the owner has processed the Lisbon City Council, for changes in the hotel, but will continue with the same name and the same owner »clarifies.

The family was quite surprised and upset with the news. «We were really nothing waiting. We thought that conflicts with landlords were past waters, but by visas not »regrets.

The manager confides that the building owner is German and lives in Tenerife. It almost never comes to Lisbon. «At first we even exchanged an email and he was very friendly. He said he was delighted to meet me and that when he was here, he would be tasteful to talk to me. It never happened. By the way, one day I knew he was in the hotel and tried to talk to him. He received me, but in a very aggressive way. The conversation didn’t even take two minutes. He told me I was determined not to renew the contract because I wanted to do such works, that the situation is what it is’ and that I did not want to have tenants »it detailed. «It has no sensitivity. It must be a gentleman who only sees numbers ahead, but I think he’s going the wrong way. Guests in your hotel come here precisely to see unique and identity things from the city of Lisbon. I think these businesses can only benefit hotels that settle in these buildings, and never hurt »guarantees, adding that there have never been clientele problems. By the way, every year, more and more people are looking for the homes of Ginja.

According to Nuno Gonçalves, the space is as important for the city as the other two «Which are practically in the same situation». «But with a more dilated temporal space. We are now, they will be in the very near future. This law, as it is, is completely rocking traditional trade »defends.

Towards the Assembly

For you, there are no legal instruments to protect local and history from real estate investors. Therefore, the manager of Sem Rival has created a public petition for the maintenance and reinforcement of the protection of establishments and entities of local historical and cultural interest that already has more than 900 signatures. “We want to reach the Assembly of the Republic so that there is a legislative change that, for example, can allow these small trades to buy the store where they have been located sometimes for over 100 years. One thing is having the right of preference under a millionaire business because we are tenants, another thing is, when they transact the property, we have the hypothesis of buying an autonomous fraction (the store alone) »explains. «I am the fourth generation of liqueur manufacturers. This business has been operating since 1890 »remember.

Nuno Gonçalves also says that it is important to undo the myth that «Traditional and ancient trade, as tenants, lives a lot at the expense of landlords for paying low incomes». «It is not our case. Our income was updated in 2014 with the new contract and we paid a lot above the market. We have a store with 12 square meters and paid about 2600 euros per month. Many people think we pay, for example, 50 »reveals.

And guarantees: « At this moment we are trying to solve it all well, common sense and with the help of the Lisbon City Council that can play a key role in continuing the business, so that we do not have to go to court. ». «I would like the municipality -that’s what we are talking about -to promote a meeting with the owner to call him reason. The hotel can continue to work and we keep there. They know that Lisbon cannot do without these types of stores that are a rarity, because there is no more part in the world »stresses.

Ginjinha Espinheira employees are jointly and so on with their colleagues. «It is a shame and there is no justification. It’s zero! Each time closes more houses with history »Exalts Fernando Proprelate that works in the space that has been almost two centuries, 43 years ago. Questioned about the future of the house, admits that «You don’t know anything». “These are men with a lot of money who just want to make money. Do you think they close everything that is Portuguese? »interrogates.

Nuno Gonçalves agrees: «What saddens me most is the state that is coming to the city of Lisbon. The trade is completely devastated. It is increasingly monochrome and monofunctional… the same stores, the same multinationals and alongside souvenir stores usually of immigrants who know they sell nothing but pay thousands and thousands of euros of income. No one does anything, everyone finds it perfectly normal. If it’s the city they want, it’s the city they will have »shot.