La Vermuteria del Tano, a cherished vermouth bar in Barcelona's Gràcia district, will continue its nearly century-old tradition under new ownership. After more than 40 years, founders Tano Gabernet and Maricel Vidal have retired, passing the establishment to siblings Marta and Miguel Jiménez, who pledge to preserve its authentic character at Carrer de Joan Blanques, 17.
Tano Gabernet, who gave the bar its name in 1991, officially retired on 1st April. He and his wife, Maricel Vidal, decided to step down after decades of continuous work. "Around Christmas, my wife and I started saying we were very tired," Mr Gabernet explained. "We have worked all these years, weekends, and in the past, we never took a day off. We said: 'This cannot be, we will retire and not be able to enjoy it.'"
The couple wanted to ensure the bar would not "become dehumanised," a fate they observed in other transferred establishments. Their son, who previously helped, chose to pursue economics. This left the couple to seek external successors.
New Leadership, Familiar Flavours
The search for new owners quickly ended when Miguel Jiménez, a neighbour, learned of the transfer. He contacted his sister, Marta, who was working in hospitality in Switzerland. Marta had long admired the vermuteria. "Whenever I came to see my brother, if it was open, I would go in for something," she stated. The siblings partnered to take over the business.
Marta Jiménez now serves customers, offering traditional tapas like stuffed olives, calamari, and razor clams. She maintains the bar's established menu, written on two blackboards inside. The new owners commit to upholding the bar's unique identity. "I do not want to change anything visible," Marta Jiménez affirmed. "If anything, I will make invisible changes to ensure the business runs well."
Preserving a Gràcia Institution
Many long-standing customers express surprise at seeing a new face but delight that the bar's essence remains. Josep and Àngels, previous staff members, continue their roles. The bar, located at Carrer de Joan Blanques, 17, at the corner with Bruniquer, first opened in 1927 as a cellar. It sold bulk wine and spirits then.
Tano Gabernet was born in Montgai, Noguera, in 1961. He moved to Barcelona with his family at age 10. After military service and working in Andorra, he ran a grocery store in L'Hospitalet. He met Joan Esteve, the bar's previous owner, who was retiring. Mr Gabernet took over the establishment after two years of learning from Mr Esteve.
A Rich History and Unique Decor
Mr Gabernet transformed the cellar into the beloved vermouth bar it is today, capitalising on a resurgence of vermouth culture. He recalled that when he first saw the bar, it primarily served older, retired residents playing dominoes and cards. The bar's interior reflects its long history. It houses a large collection of clocks, gifted by a customer, which replaced old liquor bottles.
A display cabinet holds many souvenirs brought by patrons from around the world. "I created this, and I have given them all the decoration, because everything here has a story," Mr Gabernet said. "There are paintings by the artist Carles Sunyer from Palamós, also by a cartoonist from El Jueves. And there are also some things I made myself, because I also like to paint." The vermouth served was originally Perucchi, later replaced by Miró de Reus after an acquisition.
Community and Future
Over nearly half a century, Tano and Maricel connected with countless people. "I really enjoyed chatting, for example, with Tonet, who told me he had been to the war and had been a commander's driver," Mr Gabernet shared. He added, "I have learned everything and a lot of psychology there. We have met wonderful people, and that has been very enriching."
The bar's success grew largely through word-of-mouth. "The secret is to provide quality at a fair price," Mr Gabernet noted. "Without us doing anything, word-of-mouth brought the vermuteria's current success." Marta Jiménez, at 36, brings modern operational methods. This includes computerised invoicing, a change from Mr Gabernet's paper system. He stated, "Until the last day, I did all the invoices on paper, the old way. Marta, however, has everything computerised."
Mr Gabernet also noted the changing restaurant scene in Gràcia. "Few Catalan cuisine restaurants remain, apart from Glop and a couple of others. Most are Asian or similar," he observed. Marta Jiménez's goal is to ensure the bar retains its familiar atmosphere and service. "I do not want the change to be noticeable; I want everything to remain the same," she explained. "I want those who already came here and felt it was their home to continue feeling the same. I want to maintain the same relationship with customers, know their names, and how they like their coffee and vermouth. It is a lot of responsibility, but it also excites me greatly." The vermuteria, a small, authentic landmark for vermouth and tapas lovers, now looks forward to celebrating its centenary in 2027.
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Originally published by VilaWeb Feed. Read original article.
