The Horta neighborhood chains closures of historic and traditional businesses at a time of change for its commercial fabric. Pastisseria Rovira, open since 1954, lowered the blind at the end of January. In the same area, Calçats Ventura, Esports Sanvisens and Moda Stefano have also closed, while the Labossa store, next to Eivissa square, will close soon after more than 20 years of activity.
The succession of closures has reopened the debate about the future of local commerce in the old core of Horta, one of the most recognizable commercial environments in the Horta Guinardó district. The impact is not limited to businesses that have already disappeared. It also affects emblematic establishments that face an uncertain horizon, such as Can Corretja, open since 1888 and which could close by the end of 2027.
Concern among the merchants of the old town
Marc Suárez, owner of Labossa, explains the difficulties that small business carries in the neighborhood.
"Running a business is complicated, especially due to the hours, which make family reconciliation difficult. Furthermore, people's consumption patterns have changed a lot" - Marc Suárez, owner of Labossa
The pressure on schedules, changes in shopping habits, and the difficulty of maintaining family businesses appear as some of the factors weighing on establishments with decades of history. In Horta, where a good part of commercial activity has historically been linked to close interaction and specialized trade, the loss of traditional premises fuels concern among residents and merchants.
Anna Corretja, head of Can Corretja, precisely defends that model of attention linked to product knowledge and direct dealings with the clientele.
"You have to have a vocation and really like dealing with people, not like many stores that open now, where they serve you without knowing the product they sell" - Anna Corretja, responsible for Can Corretja
The district will review the plan of uses
In this context, the Plenary of the Horta Guinardó district unanimously approved the revision of the Horta Old Town Land Use Plan, in force since 2015, based on a proposal from the ERC Municipal Group. The revision aims to adapt the regulations to the current urban and commercial situation.
Among the objectives are to incorporate the analysis of new commercial and activity typologies, including small-format supermarkets with extended 24-hour schedules, delivery platforms and new leisure and catering formats. The text also proposes establishing specific measures for the protection of local commerce and the balance of uses.
The requests of local commerce
From the Unió de Botiguers Cor d"Horta, which groups 170 associated businesses, a more decisive intervention is demanded to stop the loss of historic establishments. Its president, Lola Rodríguez, proposes limiting the prices of commercial premises rentals, offering aid for their modernization, and facilitating transfers with tax advantages for businesses more than 50 years old.
The debate is now open in one of Barcelona's commercial hubs with the most identity. While work progresses to review the land use plan, in Horta concern persists about whether the closure of historic businesses ends up irreversibly altering the commercial character of the neighborhood.