A family that owns a vault in Recoleta halted a plan by the City to turn it into a gift shop

Lawyer Pablo Girado Passo, a member of the family that owns a vault in the Recoleta Cemetery, confirmed that they will take legal action to prevent the City Government from turning it into a commercial space. He explained that the niche is not vacant and houses the remains of several of his relatives.

The vault dates back to 1880 and occupies a prominent location with an entrance on Junín Street. Girado Passo detailed that the family has carried out repair work recently amounting to 15 million pesos. “We are actively claiming to recover the family vault where our ancestors currently rest,” he stated in an interview with TN.

The lawyer emphasized that the bidding took place while the deceased remain in the location, which he believes makes the process illegal. “Our family vault is from 1880 and has a privileged location,” he stressed. He also indicated that they will seek nullification due to various errors detected in the procedure.

“Our grandparents, parents, and uncles are there,” Girado Passo insisted. According to official documentation, the space has 24.54 square meters and is located in section 17, board 201, graves 1 to 12.

The proposal from the City Government

Local officials maintain that the vault is unoccupied and without active use. The terms of the call establish that the future concessionaire must allocate the property for the sale of food and beverages. It may operate as a specialty coffee shop or a similar gastronomic establishment.

The bidding expressly prohibits the installation of supermarkets, markets, or self-service stores. The declared objective is to offer a complementary service for those visiting the cemetery. The initiative also includes the operation of a souvenir shop or gift shop, along with nighttime tourist tours.