El Botijo Department Store

This is probably the third oldest shop in Madrid. Since it was founded in 1754, it has had various owners. Nemesio Palencia Peña is particularly remembered, having come to Madrid from El Almiñé, a small village in the Valdivieso Valley in the province of Burgos, to work in the shop as an apprentice. He gradually developed excellent business skills until he took over as owner of the business in 1914, inheriting it from the original founders. Since then, his family has run the business.

It is mentioned in some of Galdós' Episodios Nacionales and it is probably the third oldest shop in Madrid. It used to be a large retail store that sold all different kinds of goods; wicker chairs, sticks, shoes and boots, espadrilles, raffia, gunpowder, fireworks, toys, pens ready to be sold by five or six clerks.

Its perfume and household goods satisfy the customer’s needs nowadays. A red old botijo remains from that time and it welcomes everyone.

The adjacent shop has now been acquired by the same owners to sell paint, under the name of Solo Pinturas El Botijo.