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” The department store EL SIGLO has been destroyed by a colossal fire. Last Sunday in a little more than two hoursthe flames devoured this popular trade in La Rambla. El SIGLO was an exponent of the mercantile Catalan potential, which had been achieved thanks to the gigantic effort of long years and a high spirit of company ” LVE 27/12/1932.
Probably somebody reminds the old stores EL SIGLO and it is possible that they have been surprised that in the previous news from the Newspaper don’t mention Pelayo Street, the most recent headquarters of that popular department store. Its history began enough before.
On 1881 Eduardo Conde, Ricado Gómez and Pablo de Puerto found “Puerto & CIA”, created for commercial purposes the company placed its at 5th La Rambla, in that time called Rambla de los Estudios and also on Xuclà Street number 10 an 12
After Pablo Puerto dies on 1912, the enterprise was called Conde & Cia. On 1921 it has gone a corporation “Grandes Almacenes EL SIGLO”, its name until the liquidation.
When the fire destroyed the building El siglo occupied the number 3, 5 and 7 on the Rambla; 10, 12, and 14 on Xuclà Street and number 1 on Bonsuccés square.
Some interesting facts, from that time, can explain how important was this shop.
“6.000 incandescent lamps with a total intensity of 500.000 spark plugs”. Don’t ask me what means in today’s language, in any case that would be a lot.
The department store had 1050 workers and 600 more in external workshop. Every year El siglo published 300000 catalog and distributed 90000 balloons among its young clients. For its home delivery service it had 25 trucks.
On 1932 Christma’s day, in the morning, when the people of Barcelona were ready to celebrate Christmas around the table with the family EL SIGLO burns.
As a result of fire Barcelona’s geography changed. The department store occupied the space between the ancient Arts and Sciences Academy building (in the photograph flag’s building, today Poliarama theatre) until the Compañia de tabacos de Filipinas (Philipines Tobacco Company).
After the fire, as a result the extension Pintor Fortuny Street, this company built a new frontage towards this new street.
In the front corner during a lot of years it was the Manila Hotel, today Meridien.
See you!.
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