CasaCruz

Anyone who was a child in the 1980s will never forget the smell of paper and ink, the irresistible appeal of shelves packed with drawing supplies, and the seductive spines of notebooks and books. Casa Cruz, one of the city's most traditional stationery stores, held a special place in the imagination of students.

Image description: The image is a photograph of a store called "Casa Cruz." The store is located in a building with a classic façade, featuring traditional architectural elements. On the left, there is an open shop with displayed products, including yellow crates and stacks of green leaves. On the right, a man is on an aluminum ladder, wearing a military uniform and black gloves, holding a white object. He is positioned above the store's façade, which has a sign prominently displaying the name "Casa Cruz." The ground is wet, suggesting rain or recent cleaning. At the bottom of the image, there is a person standing, looking at the store.

Founded in December 1893 by José Rodrigues da Cruz, it ended its activities in August 2017. It rivaled Casa Mattos, also a traditional establishment. Legend has it that Casa Cruz came about from a falling-out between José Rodrigues Cruz and his father. Together, since 1870, they had run a store selling goods for fishermen on Rua Teófilo Otoni, but they had a disagreement. José then opened the stationery shop on Rua Ramalho Ortigão, near Largo de São Francisco de Paula. Other branches sprang up around the city, but all of them closed in 2017.