ExpoFlamenco opens its first flamenco store in Jerez de la Frontera
Located in the best area of Jerez’s historic center (number 2 Corredera Street, next to Arenal Square), the premise has one thousand square feet for the selling of flamenco products, local wines, souvenirs and collectibles.
Arenal Square, Jerez de la Frontera, province of Cádiz. Less than one hundred feet away is number 2 Corredera Street, in the historic and commercial center of one of the cradles of flamenco. It’s the perfect location for the first ExpoFlamenco store in the world. Everything is ready for EXPOFLAMENCO JEREZ public opening on November 4th.
The opening ceremony took place on October 31st. Artist, media, authorities and representatives of peñas flamencas and business associations came together with a great interest in seeing up close the initiative ExpoFlamenco has undertaken in their city, a small contribution to allow the wider public to better know flamenco. Books, records, old posters of flamenco festivals, sculptures and unique items are on display. A place for both passionate aficionados and casual tourists alike, this store will also have an online presence soon.
«Jafelin and Mitch Helten, owners of ExpoFlamenco, publicly thanked all who contributed to make this great project a reality»
Nela García, president of Jerez’s Open Mall Business Association (Asociación de Comerciantes del Centro Comercial Abierto JEREZ-ACOJE) welcomed ExpoFlamenco in the name of all business in the city center and apologized for the absence of Jerez mayor, Mamen Sánchez, as she was attending the municipal plenary session, although she committed to visit the premises soon. Jafelin and Mitch Helten, owners of ExpoFlamenco, publicly thanked all who contributed to make this great project a reality.
«Opening this store means a lot to me, from a personal perspective. As the dreamer who I am, I’ve been wishing to belong to Jerez’s flamenco world for a long time. With this wish now a reality, I feel that that the people of this world I that love so much accept me as one of their own, and that makes me feel very emotional» stated Jafelin, a full-blooded flamenca born in Venezuela and now living in Vancouver.
The store features an area meant for spontaneous performance of cante flamenco. The great cantaora María Vargas, born in Sanlúcar but now settled in Jerez, delighted the attendees singing local bulerías. Salmonete de Jerez, Mercedes del Puerto, the aficionada Pepa de Abucha, from Jerez de la Frontera, guitarist Miguel Ramos, from Puerto Real, and Santos García, cantaor from Almería now living in jerezano, also performed selflessly, joined by the palmas of Pepe Esquivel, president of Peña Flamenca Mazaco in Coria del Río, (Seville province).
Jafelin and Mitch Helten, owners of ExpoFlamenco, with La Reina Gitana.
The directors of ExpoFlamenco are interviewed before the opening ceremony.
Jafelin Helten, owner of ExpoFlamenco, with Salmonete de Jerez.
Wines of Jerez on the shelves of ExpoFlamenco Jerez, among many other flamenco and Andalusian products.
