A centennial pension in the center of Viana do Castelo, closed more than a decade ago, will be rehabilitated and transformed into nine apartments as part of a private investment, said the mayor today.
Casa Guerreiro opened its doors in 1922, on Avenida dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra, the main artery of Viana do Castelo built between 1917 and 1920.
The old pension occupies the top two floors of the property. On the ground floor, a regional products store and Café Guerreiro are installed, with a license issued in 1943.
Contacted by the Lusa agency, the socialist mayor, José Maria Costa, said that it is a building that is part of the “collective memory” of the city, but highlighted “the rehabilitation project, in an investment of more than half a million euros”.
“The upper part of the building has not been used for a long time. With this project, it will gain a residential function that will enhance the historic center ”, said the socialist mayor.
According to José Maria Costa, the new project “meets the strategy of urban rehabilitation of the historic center that the municipality has been developing”.
The mayor highlighted “the housing offer that he will create in the historic center”, adding that “the lack of accommodation for young couples or students is one of the needs” of the historic center of the capital of Alto Minho.
“There is a lot of difficulty (…) and, in this sense, the residential function that the building will gain from this project is very important. It is a property that is part of the collective memory and that this requalification will enhance the historic center ”, he said.
To Lusa, the councilor for Planning, Urban Management, Economic Development, Mobility and Territorial Cohesion, Luís Nobre, said that the licensing process that entered the municipality is related to the rehabilitation of the building and its transformation into 12 functional units ”.
In terms of the ground floor, “the project includes a restaurant and beverage establishment, two commercial units or services”.
In the upper part of the property “nine housing units of different types will be created (two T0, four T1, two T2 and one T3)”.
Luís Nobre said that the building permit issued to the company Jomafema – Imobiliária is valid until November 2023.
The promoters “already have a work permit that should start soon,” concluded the councilman.
The start of the intervention marks the end of Café Guerreiro, which has been operating for 77 years on the main street in the capital of Alto Minho.
Samuel Matos started working in the cafe as an employee in 1970, he was 15 years old. Today, at the age of 65, he did not hide the “bitterness of leaving the customers he has as friends of a lifetime”.
“It is with great bitterness that I have to leave them. I had a family here. There are more than 14 hours a day here, for 50 years. There are a thousand and one memories, many stories of joy and sadness ”, said the businessman in statements to the Lusa agency.
In 1984, the space was passed by the establishment known “everywhere” for “special” sangria, a recipe “aged 36” that it does not disclose. Guerreiro sandwiches, dogs, bifanas or gizzards are other strong dishes of coffee.
Two years ago, Samuel was approached by the promoter of the new project and today he spared no criticism for the way the exit process was conducted.
“They only gave me half the value of the works I did at the café. I spent 75 thousand euros here. In addition, they give me two years’ rent. It is unacceptable. The lease law is not fair because it does not protect tenants in the same way as landlords. Put me on the street with one hand in front and the other behind ”, he lamented.
Café Guerreiro will close on Thursday. On social media, customers mobilize for a farewell party that Samuel Matos has no doubt that will have “many tears”.
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