VENICE – He’s back to work baker, profession which had already been his profession from 1998 to 2005. «Since I lowered the shutters of my delicatessen in Sant’Elena, in Viale IV Novembre, the only one in the area, I have been working in the Colussi bakery in San Luca», confirms Francesco Da Tos on biavarol of Sant’Elena, a microcosm in the city of Venice where everyone knows and greets each other. And there are many residents of this green corner of the city, which comes alive especially during the home matches of Venezia Calcio, who regret the choice of From Tos. «I put my heart into this shop rented for 1000 euros 19 years ago, a space that had been disused for 7 years and which had previously housed a greengrocer – says Da Tos, now former owner of “Pane e Salame” – As soon as Having signed the contract, I started the complete renovation of the place. I did all the brickwork, the bathroom, the dressing room, the changing room, the flooring, the electrical system, I purchased the refrigerated counters for the goods. Apart from the septic tanks, built thanks to the funds of the Special Law, I spent almost 100 thousand euros out of my own pocket.”
Da Tos was convinced that “Pane e Salame” would be his place of work forever, until he retired: «I come from a Biavarol family, my grandfather had opened his first shop in 1925 in San Francesco della Vigna, then moving, in 1931, in Salizada dei Greci. And it was in that shop that first my father, then my sister and I began to work.”
FEWER RESIDENTS
In 2005 Francesco Da Tos, after a period as a baker, landed in Sant’Elena: «At the time the neighborhood had around 2300 inhabitants, today they are reduced to 1750, a decline which led to a sharp drop in daily takings, a problem made more serious by the parallel increase in rent at each expiration of the contract. From 1000 euros in 2005, in 2023 I ended up paying 2200 euros a month, an unsustainable expense. Hence the decision to close and return to being a baker. My two employees Manuela Baldan and Lorena Arnavas also found another job.”
With the closure of “Pane e Salame” only a small grocery store, a greengrocer and a butcher remained in Sant’Elena: «The neighborhood shops are gradually disappearing and it is a shame because the residents are missing not only a physical place where do daily shopping but also the relationship, based on mutual trust, with small traders. My activity was known and appreciated by everyone, I even personally brought the shopping home to those who were ill that day or to elderly people who asked me for this pleasure, I never held back”.
THE CANCELLATION
The decision to close was not taken lightly or on impulse, Da Tos thought about it carefully: «I had already given notice in October, in January the owner of the property passed away, then the heirs tried to meet me by offering to reduce the rent to 1800 euros per month, at least until next December, but by now I had realized that the game was no longer worth the candle, the city is becoming depopulated and tourists come to St. Helena for a relaxation break only in summer. Too little”.
As per the contract, Da Tos had to leave the refrigerated counters and all the furniture he had purchased for his business inside the shop: «At the moment the shop is closed and, as far as I know, there are no suitors, we need passion and courage to decide to invest in this area of Venice.”
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