Thirty years ago I had the pleasure of visiting the El Corte Inglés store in Marbella. I thought it was a local store, but 30 years later I discovered that its branches cover all of Spain, and are present in many other countries, even outside Europe.
El Corte was founded in 1934 by Ramón Areces Rodríguez in Madrid as a small tailor’s shop specializing in children’s clothing. It expanded into a department store and by the end of World War II, Ramón’s relatives had joined the company. The store became active in the marketing of real estate, travel, insurance and grocery stores, and dominated the retail trade through its network of branches and its distinguished services.
After the founder’s death in 1989, his nephew took over the management, until his death in 2014, when his daughter Marta Alvarez Gil took over the management.
The strange name of the company means “English story”, as the original activity was sewing clothes for the elite. In those years, English taste was prevalent, and evidence of precision and quality. This store with a non-Spanish name became one of the most famous brands in Spain.
Selfridges in London took my breath away when I first walked in, in 1968, and it was, and still is, my favourite store whenever I visit the former horse stud. It is one of the most famous department stores in Britain and Europe, always distinguished by innovation, luxury and a distinctive approach to retail.
Founded in 1909, the store celebrated its 100th anniversary with the help of American retail magnate Harry Selfridge, son of Robert Selfridge, who abandoned his family. The strong-willed mother, Louise, a schoolteacher, raised his four children and played a significant role in shaping the character of the eldest son, Harry.
His marriage to Rose Buckingham, a wealthy heiress, was a turning point, as her wealth supported his ambitions and he moved to London to establish his famous store. Their marriage was not ideal, due to Harry’s lavish lifestyle and infidelities.
After Harry’s death in 1947, his family continued to live in Britain and Europe, with varying degrees of involvement in public life. While none of the children succeeded in replicating their father’s success in business, they remained prominent social figures due to their family name and connections.
The third and final store that played a romantic role in my life is Harrods, founded by Charles Harrods in 1824 as a small grocery store in London’s East End. It moved to its current location in 1849, initially focusing on groceries.
Under his son Charles, the store grew significantly, and in the 1860s it expanded further, but a fire in 1883 forced its owners to rebuild it.
In 1894, the store became a joint stock company, which enabled House of Fraser to take over in 1959. The store continued to grow, building a global reputation synonymous with luxury and high-end retail, until 1985, when Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed succeeded in purchasing it, changing a lot of it, modernizing it and strengthening its position as a global luxury brand.
In 2010, Al Fayed sold the store to Qatar Holding for £1.5 billion, and I remember that he only paid £600 million to buy it.
The fourth and final store that affected my life was my father’s store in the flour market, and it still stands in its place today, after it was transformed into a grilled fish restaurant!
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