There is no trace left of the former headquarters of Banco Popular in Barcelona. The building located at Passeig de Gràcia number 17, next to the Stock Exchange, was acquired three years ago by the American real estate company Hines, which paid 90 million euros to the bank, now integrated into Santander. It is a seven-story building of 4,000 square meters that was built in the 60s of the last century and housed Popular's main office in the city and the territorial management of Catalonia.
Nike's new flagship has three floors and is operated by the Italian group Percassi, owner of the Kiko Milano chain and which also operates Lego stores, among other commercial brands. Nike already had an establishment on Barcelona's commercial artery located just a few meters further up, in a premises between Diputació and Consell de Cent, which has now closed and is available.
According to Nike, the megastore has been designed exclusively for Barcelona and is divided into four main areas (connect, learn, create and improve) to nod to the four petals of the Flower of Barcelona, that is, the iconic tiles of the city's sidewalks. "The store aims to be an intersection between sport and the digital world," says Nike, which has also emphasized sustainability.
Specifically, the opening aims to contribute to the Move to Zero program, designed by Nike to become a carbon and waste neutral company. Thus, the store's floor has been built with 80,000 kilos of recycled material equivalent to 188,000 soccer balls. The displays have also been made with recycled parts and in the store itself there are containers to encourage shoe recycling.
In the midst of the pandemic and at a time when closures are multiplying, Nike joins the recent openings of Moncler, Balenciaga, Week Day, Nylstar, Golden Goose and Messika, also on Passeig de Gràcia. Other brands have already announced their intention to also open a store on the promenade, such as Sephora and Tiffany's.