Bar-Tienda

The "primordial knot" that ties together the social fabric of the rural environment of Asturias, the bar-tienda is a unique combination of local pub and general store.

Description

The rural world everywhere suffers from a lack of businesses. Mostly this is because the population of a rural area, say a valley or a mountain hollar or what have you, is too small to support the number of businesses it needs. Especially in a place that isn't on the way to anywhere, there might only be one store for miles in any direction. In the US, these tend to be a gas station with a convenience store and maybe a sandwich shop. In some parts of the US (like where I grew up) you can find traditional general stores with gas pumps out front. Some even have restaurants or hot food to go.

In rural Ireland you can find country pubs with a grocery room attached. And in the smallest villages you can find a combination pub and general store. THAT is almost identical to a bar-tienda in Asturias. The only real difference is that the Asturian ones tend to put more emphasis on the tienda, and the Irish ones on the bar.