November 10th, 2012

Iconic Cafe in Madrid is Safe for Another Day

The famous Café Gijon in Madrid has won a very lucky last-minute reprieve from what would have otherwise been certain closure. The cafe, whose past clients include Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dali and Ava Gardner, would have been forced to turn its back on its 120-year history if City Hall had been able to follow through with its plan to license the terrace to a higher bidder in July. But even though the rival company, Santa Engracia, had bid twice as many euros as Café Gijon, they decided to surrender the concession in early August due to Spain’s current economic crisis. “The Café Gijon is keeping its terrace,” said a City Hall spokesman, who also mentioned that Santa Engracia was also concerned about the uproar in cultural circles over the threat to Café Gijon. The cafe, which currently employs 42 staff, will be able to maintain possession of the shaded terrace adorned with beautiful cafe furniture that has been attracting artists, writers and actors since 1888.

Source:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/hemingway-cafe-in-madrid-wins-reprieve/story-e6frf7k6-1226454508236