In the midst of a complex economic context and with the drop in consumption affecting many businesses, traditional merchants from La Plata are promoting an initiative to sustain their ventures: the Network of Historic Family Businesses, a space that brings together local businesses with decades of experience that seek to support each other to avoid closure.
The proposal aims to make visible, protect and strengthen businesses with more than 65 years of history, many of which are part of the city’s daily landscape and the memory of several generations of neighbors. The initiative also seeks to generate joint actions with the Municipality and promote public policies that help sustain these businesses considered part of the “living cultural heritage” of La Plata.
Behind this project there are family stories that spanned decades. Many of these businesses were founded by immigrants or local entrepreneurs and continued to operate thanks to the work of several generations of the same family, who maintained the activity over time despite economic and commercial changes.
Among the businesses that are part of this network are emblematic locations in the city such as Peroni Housededicated to the sale of uniforms for more than 65 years; the bakery The Mortarlocated in the area of 64 between 1 and 2; the restaurant The Pirucha from 3 and 65; the traditional coffee The Bastille 15 and 40; the La Plata Silk Factory from 8 and 54; the Santa Lucia Butchery of 8 almost 55 and Bianchi Posterslocated in Plaza Alsina.
As the days went by, other historic venues were added, including Casa Scholldedicated to comprehensive podiatry in 50 between 5 and 6; the La Campana hardware store from 11 and 49; the La Normal Bookstorewhich has around 140 years of history in the city; jewelry Testa and the house of musical instruments The Centralall located in the center of La Plata.
One of the most emblematic cases is that of the La Normal Bookstorewhose history dates back to the 19th century. Its founder arrived from Barcelona in 1885 and in 1892 opened a small establishment that over time became a cultural reference in the city. Today the business is still active and is going through its fourth family generation, maintaining the original spirit of the enterprise.
The merchants who promote this network assure that the initiative arose in the face of a shared diagnosis: the economic crisis, the drop in sales and the closure of historic establishments in the city. For them, when a traditional business closes its shutters, not only is an economic activity lost, but also a part of the urban identity and collective memory of La Plata.
For this reason, the objective of the project is to work jointly between merchants and authorities to protect these historic businesses and guarantee their continuity, recognizing their cultural, social and economic value within the daily life of the city.
