Barcelona store warns tourists that they'd be charged for snapping selfies and not buying anything
Hey tourists — have you ever wandered into a shop to look around and take a picture?
One store in Barcelona, Spain, recently put up a sign for you.
If you happen to pass by Queviures Múrria, a historic deli and retail store, you'll see a poster hanging in the window that reads, "Visit just looking (inside) €5 x person, thank you," iNews reported.
The shop is in Carrer de Roger de Llúria and on the 1920s windows you can still see the glazed adverts that were typical then, such as the Anís del Mono and Codorniu adverts, copies of original posters by the painter Ramon Casas.
As one of the oldest delis in Barcelona, Queviures Múrria sits inside a building with a 1920s facade that may make you feel like a time traveler thanks to the original mahogany furniture, fire-tinted glass, and a vintage clock, according to the Barcelona City Council. So it's no wonder that tourists want a selfie inside.
But with 99 million overnight tourists in 2022, according to Statista, it's easy to see why crowds of non-customers in a well-known establishment can be taxing on the store, which carries wine, cheese, and other high-end food products.
Charging tourists €5, or about $5.56, to enter without purchasing came about as a joke between staff members, according to iNews. Since the sign went up, no one has been charged, but it seems to be deterring visitors, Toni Merino, the manager of the shop, told the outlet.
"We have not charged any money from people who just want to come in and have a look, but that is not the point," he said. The deli also shared an Instagram post about the sign on Wednesday, and explained in the caption that it "is purely a deterrent."
The Barcelona City Council website says that the store first opened in 1898 as a coffee shop that manufactured rolled wafers.
It's unclear when the business transitioned into a deli, but Queviures Múrria has since been recognized with numerous awards from the Barcelona City Council and tourism sites, including the title of best shop in the world, according to the store's website.
Source; External
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