Porto is changing, attracting more and more visitors and tourists being a kind of ‘fashion destination’. After all, international recognition is multiplying. Meanwhile, there are new restaurants and spaces, but also old stores that have closed their doors, some more than a century old.
Grocery stores, textile stores and other establishments did not ‘survive’. In some cases, their owners decided to sell, in others renting was the chosen path. In any case, we know one thing for sure: these spaces will never be the same again.
Bolhão Grocery
Founded in 1880, Mercearia do Bolhão was considered by many to be the oldest in the city. Located on the well-known Rua Formosa, the traditional store closed its doors to the public in April, leaving an open wound in Porto’s commerce.
In these parts, in times gone by, various products were sold. For example, cookies, liqueurs, wines, cheeses, cod and cafés. However, it seems that the Spanish brand Ale Hop will take its place.
Casa Madureira
In this case, the traditional store has not yet closed, but the date of its farewell has already been announced. Established in 1944, Casa Madureira became known for selling home textiles such as towels, aprons, sheets, kitchen towels and other items.
However, it recently became known that the owner decided to sell the business because he didn’t have anyone to continue the project. According to Jornal de Notícias, the establishment should say goodbye to the city by the end of July. However, his future is still unknown.
FNAC Santa Catarina
Unlike the previous references, this is not a traditional store. Even so, there’s no denying that FNAC, located in the historic Rua de Santa Catarina it has become one of the most emblematic businesses in downtown Porto.
At the beginning of this year, the news of its closure and other stores, installed in the monumental Palladium Building, made a lot of ink run in the print and digital media. FNAC is due to close its doors by September, meaning that Porto will lose its only high street store.
