Fabre toys, the smell of wood and warmth

It's truly difficult to walk past Aribau 84 and not stop, mesmerized, gazing at Fabre's window display. And it's common to hear similar comments: "What a beautiful shop," "Such lovely toys," "Such good taste and such a warm atmosphere." Fabre is a little paradise for those looking for the perfect gift for a child. A perfect gift, and something different. They specialize in children's and young adult literature, wooden and eco-friendly toys, board games, learning aids, and other items related to leisure, recreation, and the all-important concept of learning through play. We spoke with Eugenia Pujol, the current owner, who has been involved with the business since 2011, when they were still located on Rambla Catalunya. Since 2015, they've been in this new, high-traffic location in the heart of the Eixample district, offering an oasis of calm. An oasis brimming with stimuli, of course, with a space that makes the most of its space, where it's hard to find anything that might annoy you. That's what the employees do. They know how to listen and advise. This is very important, Eugenia emphasizes. Keep in mind that being a shopkeeper in a toy store isn't easy, since almost everyone who comes in wants something for themselves, but rather as a gift. And you have to be very precise, patient, know how to explain and listen, and find the perfect piece. That puzzle that's sure to be a hit. The letter game for someone learning to write. The book for someone with learning difficulties. The paper cutout for someone who needs to improve their technique. That dinosaur world map that's sure to be a success. Or the magnifying glass with a built-in light that even the child's father will use.

To tell the story of Fabre, we must go back to 1860, when Josep Maria Fabre, who came from France, founded the first branch of the bookstore in Portal del Ángel, specializing in technical books, especially on architecture. In fact, this date is special, as it makes Fabre the oldest operating bookstore in the city. In the 1930s, the business was acquired by the Montcanut family, who moved it to the Rambla de Catalunya. The pivotal date comes in 1950 when Martha Geigle bought it, the person who would give it its definitive character, its most distinctive personality. "Doña Martha," as she was known, had a great business sense and also opened a chocolate shop. She continued importing books from Germany and also specialized in stationery and toys. Until recently, Pilar, a long-time saleswoman who learned the trade from Doña Martha, still worked at Fabre. Everything, from creating the window displays to dealing with customers and cultivating the sensitivity of a recommender, that unique and characteristic soul of booksellers. Carlos, Doña Martha's son, continued with the business. Around the mid-2000s, it became clear that it needed a makeover. This is where Eugenia, Carlos's daughter-in-law, comes in. She left her job at a bank and became fully involved in the business. Just by changing the shop window and the lighting, they gained a significant number of customers. "Are you new?" they were even asked.

Today, Fabre remains a leading name in German textbooks for students. Also for children's and young adult books in that language. And, of course, in children's and young adult literature (LIJ) in Catalan and Spanish. The world of options and possibilities, the infinite variety, that exists in this segment of the literary market is impressive. And the toys are carefully crafted, wooden, and eco-friendly. They avoid plastic; you notice it the moment you step inside the shop. The smell of wood is unmistakable and wonderful. Wood that comes from sustainable forests and non-toxic paints. "We go to many international toy fairs; we pay close attention to traditional games, those that give children a sense of warmth and that they can play with their parents or grandparents." Goose and Parcheesi alongside more intricate logic and board games. Everything has its place.

Fabre changes with the seasons. Time for costumes, notebooks and backpacks, books and dragons, board games, and advent calendars—one of their lifelong specialties. They have a customer who always gave her father the advent calendar every year. Her father is no longer with us, but she still buys it.