La Mina bar closes this week after 35 years as the epicentre of the Venus block struggle in Sant Adrià de Besòs.
Paqui Jiménez, the owner and neighbourhood spokesperson, is handing over her establishment, which served as both a community hub and the unofficial headquarters for residents fighting for the demolition of their deteriorating building.
La Mina Bar Served As Community Hub And Campaign Office
For more than two decades, Paqui’s bar became the nerve centre for one of Barcelona’s most persistent neighbourhood struggles.
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Consequently, residents of the Venus block gathered there to fill out forms, share information, and coordinate their demands for proper compensation and relocation. The bar provided crucial support for families trapped in one of the metropolitan area’s poorest streets, where official transformation plans dated back to the year 2000.
“We’ve been a small, great family for people in need,” Paqui summarised. “They came looking for support with paperwork so they wouldn’t get lost.” Furthermore, the establishment welcomed everyone from local residents and street kids to journalists and political leaders. Historical neighbourhood leader Carmen Galindo emphasised that without Paqui’s involvement, their campaign would have faltered.
Political Figures Crossed The Threshold Of The La Mina Bar
The bar’s significance extended far beyond its coffee and sandwiches. Notably, former Catalan presidents Carles Puigdemont and Quim Torra visited to discuss the Venus situation with residents. Additionally, other political figures including Oriol Junqueras, Dolors Bassa, and various secretaries general crossed its threshold. Paqui received them all with the same plain-spoken, determined tone she used with neighbours.
Paqui connected most with Puigdemont, who visited the Venus stairwell after meeting residents at the Palau de la Generalitat. “Nobody can say I’ve disrespected them,” she stated, describing the campaign’s approach as arriving “like hurricanes, like Miura bulls” because promised actions remained unfulfilled. Meanwhile, the fight against the building’s decay mirrored broader housing challenges across Barcelona.
Neighbourhood Loses Another Vital Social Coordinate
Although the bar will continue under new management, its closure represents another loss for La Mina’s social fabric. Antonio Pinel, vice-president of the neighbourhood association, lamented that community landmarks are disappearing, following the closures of a poultry shop and hardware store that nobody took over. Paqui García, who ran the poultry shop for 43 years, praised her namesake for always having “a smile and a good face for everyone” despite the circumstances.
The portal Desdelamina.net observed that the bar served as Venus’s unofficial office, and certain issues might never have been unblocked without it or Paqui. According to El Periódico’s report, the building should be empty by 2027 and demolished in 2028 if further major delays are avoided. Paqui, however, continues her personal battle against cancer while promising to remain available to neighbours for as long as her health allows.
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