Ignasi Ravell was born in 1910 and arrived to Barcelona when he was ten. He did not speak spanish as there was no TV nor radio in those times. At the beginning of the 20’s, Ignasi Ravell started as an apprentice in Bar Jordi in the neighborhood of Horta. There he worked day and night, and when it was closed, he slept under the counter. Each Sunday he was given two pesetas to go out, and he always saved one of them.
At the end of 1928 Félix Estrada received Mr. Ravell at his shop. When he asked Mr. Ravell how much he wanted to earn, he answered that first he should watch how he worked and then he'd be able to assign him a salary. That's how he started to work at Estrada’s grocery in Aragó Street, by the side of the Concepció Market.
In 1929, when the Universal Exposition was held, Mr. Ravell bought the establishment from the old owner. He changed the name of the shop and opened Mantequería Ravell, an establishment where the clients could find everything at the best prices.
Mr. Ravell answered “I haven’t got any”, although he had plenty of bottles below the counter. Mr. Ravell closed the doors and few days later opened a completely new business. The shop assistants changed their smocks for coats and ties. Instead of a grocery, Mr. Ravell specialized in high quality alimentary products. The most important people of the period were usual clients. One of the characteristics of the shop was that it was opened all the year, including on Christmas. The hard apprenticeship had taught him that the client can enter in any moment, and you must be ready to serve him.
In 1936 the Civil War bursts. The shop remains closed during the three years the war lasted, as there were no goods to sell. Ravell was set free from going to the front; he drove a rearguard truck. In 1939, when he saw the army of Franco entering Barcelona, he left the vehicle in the middle of Passeig de Gràcia and went directly to open the shop.
During the post war began the rationing period but Ignasi Ravell didn't believe that, although some people told him that nobody would buy anything. Mr. Ravell had a clear idea about what he wanted and he started a pasta manufacture. With flour and water he manufactured fresh pasta. Everyday there was queue in front of the establishment. He also made delivers to the markets of Barcelona. In order to have flour, he made himself reservist of it and bought land in Castilla. He also bought coffee, champagne, Russian caviar and so on. He thought that there always would be someone with money to buy these products.
In the splendor period Mr. Ravell started to invest in the construction sector and to travel around the world, in special to the USA, his favorite paradise. From each travel he brought new products and brands that he registered in the Spanish Office of licenses and brands. It was a hard period with a unique aim: to succeed creating a small world around him.
In the 70’s Can Ravell had a consolidated cuisine, offering catering to its clients. At the end of 70’s Josep Ravell joined the shop as an apprentice. Each Sunday he went to the client’s home to serve them what they had ordered. He was given 100 pesetas per day. Thus he began in Mantequeria Ravell. The days passed out: the transition, the new times, the VAT, the transformation of taxes, the informatics…
On 20th November of 1994 died Ignasi Ravell. He leaved a great legacy achieved by his devotion to work. During some months Josep Ravell hesitates to keep on with that business but one day he thought to himself “renew or die” and he started the transformation: he restored the shop and wide the staff. Yesterday it was a shop with three employees; today it is more than a shop: it is a gourmet shop and one of the best restaurants of Barcelona with a staff of fifteen people.
