The literary 'boom' of Sant Antoni

Sant Antoni has consolidated itself as Barcelona's new literary district, after a dozen bookstores have opened in recent years, joining other more veteran ones. These establishments, together with the Sunday second-hand market, turn the neighborhood into ground zero for books in the Catalan capital.

Twelve bookstores are currently concentrated within a small radius. There are all types, from generalists, to second-hand, and those specialized in very specific topics. Together they form an attractive and varied offer, as well as an economic engine for the area, to which they add a certain bohemian character. It also happens that most of them opened during the difficult years of the pandemic and the immediately preceding ones.

For decades, the reference bookstore in the neighborhood was Torradas (Manso, 62). It opened in 1932 and before that it already functioned as a second-hand book stall in the Sant Antoni market. Ricard Torradas is the third generation and still remembers when the business had a record store next door. Its somewhat chaotic order is one of its attractions and is reminiscent of those bookstores that years ago populated Charing Cross Street in London. It is the most veteran of Sant Antoni's bookstores. Its current owner remembers that during the post-war period they brought "forbidden books from Paris".

In the ranking of age, it is followed by Llibreria de la Imatge (Sepúlveda, 87). It opened its doors more than 20 years ago. Initially specialized in cinema, comics, and photography, five years ago it decided to expand the business with a more generalist offer. It also has a very good section of children's and young adult literature. Marta Mirosa, in charge of the business, welcomes the current concentration of bookstores in the neighborhood, because "it stimulates competition".

The existence of the Sunday book market has also stimulated the second-hand offer. Restory (Borrell, 133) opened in October 2020 dedicated to giving new lives to books. Its owners are the couple Pavel and Patricia and they take great care of the genre they put up for sale. They search one by one for the books they sell, among out-of-print copies, first editions, and others difficult to find. Although they offer thematic variety, they specialize in subjects such as architecture, photography, and critical thinking. They like that second-hand books are being "dignified."

The commitment to used books has also reached the general bookstore Byron (Casanova, 32). It opened in November 2020, also in the middle of the pandemic, and its co-owner Mariana Sarrias explains that they recently decided to have a space dedicated to second-hand books after seeing the demand it has been having lately. Byron avoids overloaded spaces and has opted for wide aisles and exquisite order on the shelves. Mariana highlights that it is a multidisciplinary space, with a cafeteria and an event room. She loves that Sant Antoni has a "culturally interesting" population.

One of the most unique bookstores is Prole (Borrell, 100). Its owner, Anna Navío, decided to open it in April 2019, when she chose to change her working life and be her own boss. One day she passed in front of the premises, saw that it was for rent, and fell in love with the display window. Prole is small but charming. It specializes in feminism, LGBTQA+, and anti-racism. She also decided to have a used book section, in this case with a more open offer. She declares herself a "lover" of books.

The second-hand offer is completed by Re-Read, a chain specializing in used books that a few years ago decided to open a store in Gran Via, 564. They are supplied, above all, by buying books from individuals at 25 cents per unit. It is a good option when one has to get rid of some of the books accumulated in the library and it makes them cringe to throw them in the paper bin.

Very close to Prole is Crisi (Floridablanca, 90). Opened in November 2019, it defines itself as a space for critical thinking. Raquel Miralles is one of the partners of the cooperative that decided to embark on the adventure in a place that was previously a bazaar and before that a garage. Its specialty is feminism and critical thinking, although Raquel confesses that the bookstore, despite having a well-equipped space, is not the main line of business, but rather the courses they organize in a place conceived as a meeting and debate point.

La Llama (Villarroel, 34) is undoubtedly the bookstore with the most unprecedented specialty: humor. Maria Ley is one of the workers and explains that its owner was inspired by bookstores in London and New York, where they have the tradition of dedicating an important section to humor. Things of the Anglo-Saxon world. They boast, then, of being the first bookstore "in the world" entirely dedicated to this specialty. A room for events and shelves dedicated to the world of gifts complete the offer.

Terranova (Borrell, 99) is another charming bookstore. It opened in October 2021 in a historic shoe store dating back to 1899, Calzados Lluch. It was the almost idyllic setting for Lucía Boned and Luis Cerveró to open an art bookstore that continues their publishing house. The careful decoration and distribution invite you to enter, even if only to browse.

La Llama is undoubtedly the bookstore with the most unprecedented specialty: humor

A little before all the previous ones, Calders (pasaje Pere Calders, 9) opened in 2014. Located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of trendy bars on Parlament street. When they opened, nearby there were only the aforementioned Torradas and Llibreria de la Imatge, and they were not competition. Calders is in a charming corner of the neighborhood and the interior accompanies the search for books, even on Sundays. Isabel Sucunza, one of the co-owners, explains that being in the middle of a trendy area works very well for them. On Parlament street there is atmosphere every day and the Sant Antoni market also provides them with customers on Sundays.

The historic comic book store Universal (Ronda Sant Pau, 62) closes the offer of this new literary neighborhood. They have been in their current location since February 2020, but they came from another very nearby premises on Ronda Sant Antoni. In addition to comics, they also cultivate science fiction, fantasy, and horror narrative.

In short, in Sant Antoni there are books for everyone.