For some time now, El Indio has looked pitiful. The historic modernist-style fabric store in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, ??founded in 1870, closed its doors at the end of 2014, and since then it has done nothing but die.
In the real estate agency Busquets Gálvez they explain that three years later a Catalan businessman took over this premises of about 500 m2 in order to set up a restaurant, but that there was no way given the opposition of the City Council.
“A supermarket chain also showed interest – there are plenty of real estate companies – but they could not obtain the license either. That is why it has been deteriorating for so many years, damaging the street, becoming another place with the shutters down due to the lack of interest in the area. The restrictions of the municipal use plan for the Rambla and surrounding areas are so harsh that entrepreneurs leave for other areas. In addition, many who have a restaurant license try to sell their business at very high prices. “This use plan enhances speculation.”
Neighbors of the property in question, however, stated that they would be willing to live with any business that closed at eight in the afternoon. His relations with the owner of the premises are rather strained. They understand that he is not doing what he should to protect the legacy of this trade. In addition, the owner of the premises and the community are disputing ownership of the lobby.
“We don’t want restaurants or 24-hour supermarkets,” say some of these neighbors, “and we don’t want this part of Barcelona’s history to continue to deteriorate. The truth is that not many people usually come to look at this place. A crafts center could be set up here, for example… But for this the City Council would have to intervene decisively. Maybe I should buy the premises.”
