The bar with soul that the city of Girona was waiting for

GironaThey are not served drinksbut drinks. It does not have kitchenbut of food. Customers will be able to enjoy good music, not of musicand they'll find good vibes instead of vibesWith this declaration of intent, the new Soul is being announced on social media. This establishment, which opened its doors last Saturday near Girona's Barri Vell (Old Quarter), aims to differentiate itself from the numerous Anglophile establishments catering to the city's cycling community that have recently sprung up, despite its name and the fact that it's run by an Irishman, Steve Rigney. And it's precisely these local customers that Soul hopes to attract. The establishment is full of nods to these customers: a large lithograph of Saint George slaying the dragon on the wall, figurines of caganers (traditional Catalan defecators) hanging above the restroom door, locally sourced craft beers, sandwiches made with products bought from the butcher shop across the street, and a sign in Catalan inviting customers in: "Come on in."

Soul is a café, bar, and also loungeIn this case, yes, in English, because its owner believes it's the word that best defines one of the characteristics that makes the venue "unique" in the city: a welcoming space with large sofas designed primarily for enjoying the live music sessions, cultural events, and stand-up comedy performances that will be scheduled on Friday and Saturday nights in the future. "We've decided to opt for a gradual opening, a soft opening"That is, to raise the shutters and gradually incorporate activity," explains Fernanda Díaz, manager of Soul. Steve Rigney already has a new proposal in mind to add to Soul in the medium term: tastings of diverse gastronomy, prepared by different chefs who will be invited to the B&B periodically. An artistic spirit. He paints—as a hobby, he says—and among the many paintings that fill the walls of Soul are several of his own. "The decor of the place is a reflection of my personality," says Rigney, who was almost just another worker during the year or so it took to convert the former Fonda Coll into Soul.

Nostalgia for the old Fonda Coll

Taking over the old Fonda Coll is a challenge. The staff at Soul have already experienced this in their first few days of operation through customer comments: "How beautiful, but so different from how it used to be!" said an elderly man, his voice a mixture of admiration and nostalgia, still recalling the hearty, humble meals he had enjoyed at the old inn. Another customer promised to bring a photo of the former establishment. "We'll hang it here," replied Fernanda Díaz, pointing to one of the few empty spaces on walls crammed with paintings, posters, mirrors, and all sorts of objects that give the place its distinctive aesthetic. vintage which resembles a former sewer. "We've created a new space, but we don't want to erase the past," says Díaz. Rigney recalls that while the renovations were underway, many people nostalgic for the Fonda Coll stopped by, asking what kind of business would replace it. "I've given it a new life, and that was a challenge. And once it opened, many people from Girona told me that this is the kind of place they'd been waiting for in the city for a long time. It's the best compliment they could have paid me," he says.

Gone is that inn that closed its doors in 2016, but remains present in the memory of many. It had been, especially during the construction boom years, "the great meeting place for the workers in the city, a group of laborers who not only chatted a lot in the dining room, but also helped themselves at the bar," writes Jordi Nierga in the book Hostels, inns and hotels, published by the Gavarres publishing house.