Madrid has lost yet another of its century-old businesses. Tejidos Bober, located at 12 Calle Imperial, announced its permanent closure last July. The origins of this quintessentially Madrilenian establishment date back to 1834, although the Bober family took over the business in 1919. In 2026, it would therefore have marked 192 years since its opening: nearly 200 years during which this fabric store—recognizable by its red-wood and glass facade—has been part of the commercial landscape near the Plaza Mayor.
The history of the shop is linked to a building that survived the great fire of the Plaza Mayor in 1790. The Madrid City Council dates the start of that fire to August 16, at 11:00 p.m., between the Arco de Cuchilleros and the Arco de Toledo. The flames raged for nine days and destroyed a third of the square’s perimeter, despite the efforts of more than a thousand men. Decades after that catastrophe, the building that remained standing on Calle Imperial became home to a business that would eventually add its own story to that of the surrounding area.
A Century-Old Fabric Store
Behind its facade, Bober’s appeal went beyond simply buying fabric by the meter. Designers and professionals from film and television production companies would visit the historic store in search of fabrics that were no longer being manufactured. Among its long-time customers was singer and designer Tino Casal. That collection of fabrics and the expertise accumulated over generations explain the value of a business that didn’t just cater to everyday purchases: it also offered hard-to-find materials for costume and design projects.
Its closure marks the end of a business that has been in operation for nearly two centuries, but it is important to distinguish between the closure of the business and the future of its exterior facade. For now, it does not appear that the red facade will disappear. Nor is it known what use the premises will serve or who might occupy them next, given the historical value of the space.