The unexpected debt originated from aid received during the Covid-19 pandemic, initially totaling 6,000 euros. Due to an error in the notification address, the owner, Ramón Puñet, did not receive the warnings, and the amount automatically increased to 8,200 euros. The online campaign, launched under the slogan “Save La Nova Farga,” was driven by regular customers and neighbors.
“"It has been a shot of energy. The neighborhood's response has been impressive, and when I saw the people's desire for us to stay, I decided that even if we hadn't reached the figure, we would fight to continue in the neighborhood."
This incident highlighted the precarious situation facing the neighborhood restaurant sector in Barcelona. Ramón Puñet admitted he was already discouraged by the rising cost of living, gentrification, and the housing crisis, factors that force small businesses to absorb costs that customers can no longer afford.
The local chef, Pere Cardona, pointed out that the closure of emblematic businesses like the Terra d'Escudella restaurant has raised alarms. He also criticized the proliferation of large brands and franchises, such as the opening of a McDonald's on Sants Street where the Obrador de Casa Blanca used to be, representing unsustainable economic competition for traditional bars.
In response, Puñet and Cardona champion neighborhood bars as spaces of resistance and “militancy,” prioritizing personal service and empathy. La Nova Farga also strives to close the proximity economy loop by purchasing products (meat, bread, cold cuts) from local suppliers and neighbors to strengthen the commercial network of Sants.
