Thursday, November 13, 2008

One man's solution to the crisis

At the Euro Bar Cafetería in Avenida Duque Tamames, Orihuela business is booming because the owner, José Navarrete,  is offering all drinks and snacks in his bar for one euro each.

In the evenings couples "vienen a picotear". Then later, the young people arrive and enjoy whisky, gin, cognac, vodka or rum etc all at one euro a shot.

During the week, the "menu del dia" for six euros represents excellent  value for money. For that price you get a choice of drink, salad, bread, a choice of four first courses, four second courses followed by dessert.

The breakfast menu is equally popular with coffee, fruit juices, toast, montaditos. The tapas  menu includes ensaladillas, tortillas, croquetas, muslitos, consomé etc etc.

José Navarrete, who  has decades of experience in the hotel trade, says he is still making a profit even after paying rent, employing six people and paying taxes. After all José successfully ran the Diamante Rojo disco, La Fortaleza and Metro Dance Club so he knows what he is about.

This example proves the point that you don't have to be greedy to be successful. When times were good, many people here in Spain got greedy; they wanted more and more. It wasn't just bar owners; constructors, estate agents, shops and of course as we are discovering now, politicians saw a golden opportunity to get rich quickly. With the economic downturn, they are set to become poor even faster.

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