In Radio Radio, the Drugstore commercial manager, María José Poblete, reviewed the history of this icon space of Providencia, highlighting its commitment to national design, reading and a trade model other than the traditional retail.
In a commune such as Providencia, marked by constant transit and commercial rotation, Drugstore has been an exception to the ruledespite its evolution throughout its history, it has an identity that was consolidated over the years.
Born at the end of the 60s at the initiative of the Yaconi and Santa Cruz families, this space He was inspired by European shopping centers And it quickly became a meeting point for culture, art and design.
Drugstore of Providencia: the cultural icon that resists with design, books and urban calm
In Guideline city of Radio We talked with María José Poblete, Drugstore Commercial Managerabout the history, evolution and projection of this emblematic space located in the heart of Providencia, which He has known how to adapt to changes in trade without losing his cultural and avant -garde identity.
“The Drugstore has always been closely linked to the design, art, culture. In the 80s it became an unmissable Santiago with stores such as the fusion, Tavelli and Paula Sobeck’s store,” said María José Poblete, commercial manager of the place.
Local avant -garde, far from retail
Faced with the rise of traditional malls, Drugstore has sustained a clear editorial line. The focus is in local trade, independent design and an experience that encourages conversation and contemplation.
“We have been working with national design for more than 20 years. We bet on democratizing the design, which people understand that it can be accessible to all“, Poblete said.” We do not want to replicate the traditional retail, but to mark a distance with him. “
Today, more than 60% of stores are collaborative or entrepreneurship, which has allowed its audience to be renewed without losing the original spirit.
Throughout the decades, Drugstore has witnessed and protagonist of the urban and commercial changes of Providencia. While large stores migrated to shopping centers such as Costanera Center, this space managed to maintain its essence.
“The stage has changed, new competitors have arrived, but Drugstore has managed to renew without losing its character. That is our difference: we continue to be a place with a soul,” said Poblete, highlighting the coherence of the project with the original vision of its founders.
A space where culture is breathed
In addition to libraries such as Altamira, Chilean Fair and Takk, Drugstore has reinforced its cultural vocation with activities around reading. “We see people reading in the coffee shops, working with their computers, and that moves us. We want to continue promoting that quiet atmosphere, almost from a cultural club, ”said Poblete.
Projected as a creative industries hub, Drugstore wants to further enhance the visibility of the stories behind each place. “Each store has a creator behind, and we want to show. In the Drugstore the designer attends to you. That does not happen in the retail and we want to keep it,” he concluded
Check the full interview here:
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