Entrepreneurs restore 18th century pulpería in San Telmo

Matías Pierrad and Sebastián Piña reopened a historic property in the San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to create a cultural and gastronomic space called Pulpería Argentina.

The site was originally purchased in 2012 by architects Grégoire Fabre and Tatiana Michalsky, who began a project to save the deteriorating building from demolition. They established Pulpería Quilapán in 2014, but the business closed during the pandemic while the founders moved to Switzerland.

Pierrad and Piña took over the project to restore the building and reactivate its social functions. They renovated the patios and infrastructure, including the gas system, to host regional food, music, and guided tours. The venue features historical artifacts discovered during excavations, such as bullets and shackles, as well as items like an original toilet commissioned by Urquiza from London and a 1911 urn from the first female vote.

The new owners serve traditional dishes like empanadas and choripanes, some of which are prepared by a social organization called El Pan Nuestro. They also offer guided tours that vary based on visitor interest. The owners plan to expand school visits and create a dedicated space for Doña Petrona, a famous Argentine culinary figure, by displaying her personal kitchen items and recipes.