“After more than 50 years, I’m still not sure what I’m going to do”, and a smile accompanies this phrase which he utters with a mixture of mockery, sadness and confusion. Manuel is one of the brothers who owns the Evian butcher shop, located on Calle Camelias, a landmark among Vigo’s old businesses, and which will be moved in July.
Then he clarifies: “I’m pretty sure I’ll start volunteering at the food bank and give more time to my family.”
Manuel and Alejandro are the two brothers who own this business, inherited from their father, Juan González RodrÃguez, who, as can be seen from the butcher’s name sign, came from Avion in Ourense. He was a cattle herder who started this business in 1972. “My father made it himself,” explains Manuel as he opens the fridge, takes out pieces of meat to cut, cleans, answers the phone, takes orders and greets a customer. Manuel does not stop, they greet each other and Maria says: “My mother came here, and when I was little, now I buy my grandchildren here.” These people retire. The goods are good and the treatment is also good, although not the face of the butcher,” jokes Manuel. He hands him the order, says goodbye: “My regards to your mother-in-law,” Manuel Juan Connects to her before smiling.
When asked about the secret to their success, Manuel replied that suppliers and passion for what they do. “I am going to miss the clients very much, I love keeping in touch with people, watching their family grow. But I have a granddaughter and I want to see her grow too, at 70 my body just doesn’t give me that much,” he says.
Every day it opens at 6:30 am and closes at 9:00 pm. “Today it seems people don’t want to work,” he declared, recalling that on Sundays at 4:30 a.m. he goes to Coruña and Lugo to look for meat. Another customer enters, exchanges anecdotes about order taking, delivery, bids farewell and continues his routine which shows effort and dedication to a job well done.
