Palo Alto Market, the “coolest” side of the entrepreneurial Barcelona

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alo Alto Market has become the talent factory of Barcelona in its four years of existence. The coolest street-market of the capital is the best platform for young people -or not so young ones- and for entrepreneurs to project their brands and sell their creations. It opens the first weekend of each month in the old factory of Poblenou, on Pellaires Street, where it shows ephemeral installations of art or design, sale of fashion, truck food for all tastes and live music for all moods.

The old factory complex on Pellaires street, at Poblenou, houses this peculiar weekend offer, which is attended by more than ten thousand people, mostly youngsters, in each edition. Every fashionable anglicism describes perfectly the concept of Palo Alto Market. A cool and trendy audience spends a fun day of shopping, with a gastronomic break in the numerous and international food truck offer and musical soundtrack, with the best DJ’s and avant-garde musical groups. This street market also offers craft, handmade and recycling. To a higher joy of those who exhibit and sell their creations in Palo Alto, the presence of influencers is very frequent, so the profit of being in this space can multiply substantially.

The textile fumes are now gastronomic aromas from all latitudes, which have become one of the great attractions of Palo Alto. The bougainvillea act as a floral curtain to soften the industrial environment of the late nineteenth century

The peculiar precinct is an old textile factory that started in 1875 and in 1988 avoided the risk of demolition thanks to the commitment of the cultural promoter Pierre Roca, that transformed it into an artistic oasis. In the Barcelona prior to the Olympic Games, with the urban transformation of the area, Palo Alto remained standing, with its huge emblem chimney, when the most prestigious designers, artists, architects and creators of the city were located in its interior. Artists like Javier Mariscal, the creator of the Olympic Cobi, moved his studios there.

The textile fumes are now gastronomic aromas from all latitudes, which have become one of the great attractions of Palo Alto. The bougainvillea act as a floral curtain to soften the industrial environment of the late nineteenth century. And the artistic oasis to which Javier Mariscal contributed is still alive thanks to the co-founder of Palo Alto Market, Paula Mariscal, a member of the family of Cobi’s creator. She is very proud of the result of the four years of activity in this project, which has become one of the emblems of the Barcelona brand for the hundreds of young entrepreneurs who have developed their initiatives starting from this already famous street-market at Poble Nou.

For Paula Mariscal, Palo Alto Market “is a stable platform of emerging initiatives” that facilitates young entrepreneurs to find their way into the competitive and technological world of 21^st century marketing. This is attested by the designer of the brand Colmillo de Morsa, Elisabet Valdecilla, who from the beginning, in each edition, opens her space to design and sell her fashion and costume jewellery creations. “Thanks to Palo Alto, I have been able to publicize my brand in a much broader way. I have participated several times in the fashion week of Barcelona 080, where many of the clients I have met here attend my fashion shows”, explains the designer.

Another young creator, in this case of jewellery and costume jewellery, Mireia Pardo, explains with great satisfaction her achievements at Palo Alto Market: “I have been two years in this space and what I have achieved with the sale of my creations, in addition to making my brand known, Pardo, has allowed me to pay for my Design studies in Barcelona”. Mireia wants to amplify her horizons in the world of fashion and says that this is facilitated by the many sales achieved in each edition, mainly because she offers a product that hardly exceeds 20 euros.

In this framework of innovation, imagination and playful proposals there is also room for solidarity. Last weekend the company “Humana” opened its doors in Palo Alto, selling its vintage offer with charity purposes for those who are in need. In addition, Humana has launched educational workshops for children, where they teach that all second-hand clothes have an utility, like the creation of puppets with old socks.

The cool and trendy audience that attends this street market is already part of the show that contributes to the fact that cosmopolitan, creative and entrepreneurial Barcelona progresses with the spirit of the times, at the top positions of the world ranking

In this environment, the restless and enterprising Barcelona finds in Palo Alto one of the emblems for those who are natives or that come from any part of Spain and from other countries, who usually start the month enjoying the colourful and playful offer of this jumble sale. To avoid unwanted agglomerations, the entrance to Palo Alto -on the Saturdays and Sundays that it is opened- costs four euros, one euro less if it is purchased online. On the website it is informed of the exhibitors that there will be in each edition, the planned actions and the special events that usually take place. The residents of Poble Nou and the area of ​​Diagonal Mar do not pay for the entrance, an intelligent way to become one of the attractions of those who live in this classic and at the same time new Barcelona.

Going for a stroll there on Saturdays, with a more familiar public is a highly recommended option, and so is going on Sundays, with a younger and more playful atmosphere. The cool and trendy audience that attends Palo Alto market is already part of the show that helps to confirm that the cosmopolitan, creative and entrepreneurial Barcelona progresses with the spirit of the times, at the top positions of the world ranking.