Leandro, an Argentine settled in Badalona, has opened a bar to better understand Spanish culture and move beyond his circle of compatriots. His story reflects how hospitality continues to be a driving force for social integration.
Leandro, a 35-year-old Argentine immigrant, has fulfilled his dream of opening his own bar in Badalona. He did it, as he explains, to fully integrate into Spanish society and stop only socialising with Argentines. After nearly two years in Catalonia, he decided that the best way to get to know the local culture was to stand behind the bar.
From lawyer to hospitality: the leap to the bar
Leandro studied Law and specialised in sports law, a career he tried to develop in Spain by collaborating with a media outlet writing sports news. But the hospitality vocation had long been in him. "I have always liked having a place where people could come and have a good time, but I never dared," he confesses in an interview shared by the account @Pastor Comunica.
It was upon arriving in Badalona that he decided to revive that old dream. Together with a partner, also Argentine, he opened a bar in the neighbourhood convinced that it was time to take the plunge. "What if I finally open that bar?" he recalls thinking before embarking on the project.
Integration through hospitality
For Leandro, the bar is not just a business, but a meeting point. "The bar seemed to me the meeting place to get to know more about the culture here," he explains. Working every day behind the bar has allowed him to discover customs that he had only known as a customer: meal times, how the elderly start their day with a coffee or a glass of wine, and the importance of everyday conversation.
"I learned that breakfast is heartier, that lunch is later, that the old folks always have a little glass of wine and walk home," Leandro humorously summarises. Daily contact with customers has helped him better understand daily life in Spain and build new personal relationships.
A key sector in Spanish culture
Spain has between 163,000 and 184,000 bars, according to estimates, which means one bar for every 175 inhabitants. This density reflects the deep-rootedness of hospitality in the country's culture. For many immigrants, starting a business in this sector becomes a pathway to integration, as demonstrated by Leandro's case.
Today, the Argentine claims he does not regret the decision. Beyond the effort it takes to run a business, he enjoys serving his customers, listening to their stories, and being part of the neighbourhood's life. "I like to see people happy," he sums up.
His experience highlights that the bar counter can be a real space for integration. For Leandro, the bar has not only allowed him to develop a business project but also to connect with Spanish culture from one of its most representative places.
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