The work on the Plaza de la Villa which ruins the sales of fifteen convents in Spain: “It’s like disappearing”

Once her establishment is open, she places a small sign at the foot of the scaffolding, which is added to the two tarpaulins located on the sides of the workers’ structure and which this woman considers as her only means of attracting attention. “It’s as if we had disappeared,” laments the owner of this establishment attached to the monastery under construction as she prepares everything and waits for customers to arrive. For several weeks, the sisters of the Las Carboneras convent have confirmed to this newspaper that this complex dating from 1607 is carrying out exterior maintenance work. And although Isabel emphasizes that they will last until next March – finishing before the Holy Week processions – the nuns “do not know” when they will finish this work.

The business began operating “little by little and with a lot of work” a few years ago, when the owner, a journalism graduate and stylist by profession, lost her job. “I was looking for a place and called this place without knowing it was the back of the monastery. In the end, it was perfect because they were also looking for an activity linked to their work,” she tells ABC. Today, Isabel combines her work in store with her activity as an independent stylist.

After several months of working on the premises, looking for the ideal decoration for this space and waiting to obtain the activity permit, Isabel managed to open her business in 2010. “The structure it owns dates from the 17th century, I wanted to decorate it like an old pharmacy and, in fact, all the furniture comes from an apothecary that evokes the French 19th century,” she tells the newspaper. This is how El Jardín del Convento became the main point of sale for the products of monasteries and convents throughout the country and the only store in Madrid dedicated exclusively to it.

Almond paste from the convent of Toledo, made by Dominican nuns; artisanal jam made by the Cistercian monks of Santa María de Huerta, in Soria; artisanal treats at the Santa Paula Monastery in Seville; and the yolks kneaded by the Poor Clares of the convent located in Badajoz are some of the many products that Isabel orders every week. “Ultimately, they don’t work with a lot of ‘stock’ and communication between us is constant,” emphasizes Isabel, who adds that the concern to sell in stores is not exclusive to her, but also to these monastic spaces. “We do important work with them because many of these establishments are in remote areas and without this store, they would only sell two bags of muffins per week,” he emphasizes.

While in Madrid, Austria, El Jardín del Convento deals with this problem, the domino effect of this situation is felt almost 300 kilometers away, in the convent of the Poor Clares located in Siberia, Extremadura, where 14 sisters continue their daily work in baking. “We are very happy when we receive an order from Isabel. Their work helps us because we have to cover many expenses like nursing care and heating. Our life is prayer but, as Saint Clare says, we must work both as an offering to the Lord and to provide for our needs,” Sister Miriam, mother superior of this convent located in the town of Siruela (Badajoz), tells this newspaper.

Visitors only come to this town of just 1,700 at specific times and if they want to see the convent specifically. “Many emigrated to find a life elsewhere. We are far from everything, there are practically no roads, so we cannot limit ourselves to selling three or four things. The stores that sell our muffins, our cakes or our marzipan outside are the ones that help us the most,” he continues. This cloistered convent is one of those that sent a letter to Madrid City Hall asking that visibility be given to Isabel’s business by including it in this year’s City Hall Christmas program, because “many of us live from what she sells.”

It is also with this weight in mind – this company works with fifteen monasteries and convents throughout the country – that Isabel held meetings with Madrid City Hall to ask for help with this extraordinary situation. “The nuns always tell me that I am moving them, but they are also moving the almond producer, the sugar producer… If things go well for me, they will all do it too,” he continues.

A crucial moment

The months from October to December are, as he points out, the most important quarter of the year for his company. “In October, we estimated losses at 30 percent. It’s not sustainable, we can be like that for a month, but not much more,” denounces the owner, who emphasizes that if the work had been carried out in summer, the consequences would have been different.

This time, according to estimates from Asempas (Professional Association of Pastries and Bakers of the Community of Madrid), the sector should sell 1.4 million kilos. The region will also be one of the regions where spending will increase the most, by 37 percent, due to the greater frequency of purchases and the importance of gastronomy in celebrations.

“I still pay my employees’ salaries, social security contributions, my self-employed contributions, my quarterly taxes, my rent… Everything continues and I can’t find any exception that takes this situation into account,” he laments.

“We thought you were closed,” confides a couple who failed to find the door to this central business. This is, once again, one of the usual conversations between the saleswoman and the customers, who are generally knowledgeable in this profession. The others, between the workers, the scaffolding and the noise of the hammers, do not realize that by overcoming these obstacles, they can find many monastic delights from all over the country.

In addition to this specific problem, Isabel points out that there are constant blockages on the street where her business is located every time a delegation of presidents or kings visiting the capital arrives at the Plaza de la Villa. “Two weeks ago it was the President of Germany, last week it was the President of Portugal, two weeks ago it was the Sultan of Omar and for security reasons they ended up cutting off my access to the store. It makes me sad that no one has taken into account that these situations affect businesses,” he concludes.