Barcelona city council evicts all street merchants on La Rambla
Last five 'old bird vendors' stalls closed ahead of dismantling for reform of iconic boulevard
La Rambla boulevard has fully bid farewell to one of its most charismatic elements for Barcelona residents: the 'ocellaires' or 'bird vendors' stalls, after the city council evicted the last five vendors on Monday morning.
The closure follows a judicial ruling and comes after six vendors were already evicted on August 21.
Earlier in July, a judge temporarily suspended the closure of the shops to further examine the case.
But, later rulings from up to five different courts backed the city council's decision.
The city council wanted to evict the merchants as part of a reform of La Rambla that began in June and aims to change the perception that the boulevard is strictly for tourists.
Known in Catalan as 'ocellaires' or 'old bird sellers,' the merchants on La Rambla used to sell birds and other animals.
In 2009, they stopped selling birds and now sell souvenirs, ice cream, tickets, and sweets.
Back in 2016, the city council already floated the idea of dismantling the stalls, and on June 14, 2021 they told public tender winners that they would not extend the contracts that started on 1971 for 50 years.