May 20, 2006

Still enchanting after all these years

One of the exhibits here at Cuba Nostalgia features pictures and displays from Cuba's upscale BC department store, El Encanto.

Encanto.jpg
encantobooth.jpg

The pictures below give some idea of how high-end this store was.

encantoexterior.jpg
encantomens.jpg
encantoshoes.jpg

The thing that really got my attention was some of the literature they were distributing at the exhibit. The exhibit is being manned by the Association of Former Employees of El Encanto. Now, my wife works at an upscale store to remain nameless (Hint: some call it Needless Mark-Up) and I could never envision the creation of an association of former employees of that store, unless it was to bemoan the working conditions etc. Yet here we are 47 years later and the former employees of El Encanto remain as proud as ever for having worked at the Cuban landmark.

encantoassn.jpg

Pictured above are: Minerva Gomez, Olga Miyares, Julie Arias, Dario Miyares, and Victor Blanco; all of them are former employees of El Encanto. Not only do they have an association, they have an annual reunion. Do you know how it feels to be part of something bigger than yourself? I'm beginning to have that feeling here at Cuba Nostalgia with my colleagues.

Special thanks to Humana for sponsoring the El Encanto exhibit.

Posted by Henry Louis Gomez at May 20, 2006 12:50 PM

Comments

The store's probably still there I'll bet... rotting and unmaintained.

The revolution was so good for the people.

Posted by: Dean Esmay [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2006 09:17 PM

Dean, unfortunately, although it did spare El Encanto from a slow, painful death, the main store in Havana was sabotaged and burnt to the ground in April 1961, just before the Bay of Pigs operation. It was a wonderful, very elegant place. Wish I'd appreciated that more in those days when my mother, or an aunt, whowever, would drag me in as part of a no doubt necessary shopping expedition. I recall the employees being classy and helpful - 180 deg removed from the ones one cringes to run into in today's retail world.

God bless these classy ladies and gentlemen.

Posted by: Alberto-Q [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 21, 2006 05:27 PM


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