La Casa de les Sabatilles, an icon of the Gòtic neighborhood in Barcelona, says goodbye after more than seventy years of providing shoes to generations of locals. This closure marks not only the end of a business, but also the decline of an era in local commerce, where the relationship between seller and customer went beyond a simple transaction.
A journey that began at the Baixada de la Llibreteria
The history of La Casa de les Sabatilles dates back to 1950, when Teresa Duque opened this small business in Baixada de la Llibreteria. From the very first day, this shop offered comfortable and traditional footwear to all visitors, becoming a must-stop for those looking for slippers, espadrilles, or slippers. In 1984, the business passed into the hands of Joan Carles Iglesias’ father, who continued the family tradition, keeping the essence of the business intact.
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All seemed to be going well until an unexpected change in the ownership of the building began to deteriorate what had been a thriving micro-business. The sale of the building in 2002, under an annuity that eliminated the right of first refusal, began to threaten the store’s stability. The new economic conditions were unsustainable, and despite its protective measures as a flagship store, eviction became an inevitable fate.
Fighting the wind: transfers and endurance
After being expelled from the Gòtic in 2022, the store tried to survive in Freneria Street. Low pedestrian flow and loss of visibility led to a new closure. Subsequently, the City Council tried to rescue the history of the business through the Amunt Persianes program. Thus was born a new and hopeful chapter in Sant Pere Més Alt street, where Iglesias reopened with part of the original furniture and a renewed illuminated sign.
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However, the world had changed too much. The new context was less benign than expected, with a small storefront and almost no commercial activity. The death of Iglesias’ wife, who managed the purchases, was the blow that finally brought down the resilience that sustained the soul of the shoe store.
Total liquidation: the last chapter
With closure imminent, La Casa de les Sabatilles is in the midst of liquidation. Discounts of up to 60% adorn the labels of every shoe in the store, as locals visit this symbol of local commerce for the last time. If any nostalgia refugee requires it, sales could continue via the Internet, where Iglesias keeps the spirit of resistance alive.
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Accompanied by his faithful sales clerk, Iglesias remains at the front, unbowed and serene. He faces the reality of a Barcelona that has abandoned, at least in part, its small commercial jewels to make way for franchises and the unstoppable touristification of Ciutat Vella.
A symbol of what is lost
The disappearance of La Casa de les Sabatilles is not a mere store closing, it is a clear reflection of how the soul of a city changes over time. Each emblematic business that disappears, like an out-of-tune note, contributes to alter the harmonious rhythm of the neighborhoods.
The surprise and sadness of this closure adds to the uncertainty of tomorrow for other traditional businesses. Today, the city faces the challenge of balancing modernity and tradition, while the echoes of its history are slowly fading.
The closing of La Casa de les Sabatilles leaves us with an eternal lesson: no business is immortal, but its legacy will always resonate like the echo of those sneakers that once stomped in the heart of Barcelona.
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