Before the stall was his, it was run by another family. José helped them and, when they had to leave, he decided to apply for it. He was awarded the concession and has not moved from the spot since. “Since I helped them, I applied for it and they gave it to me,” he recalls. Four decades have now passed since that moment, and every season he returns to the same corner.
This year, however, the chestnuts have had to wait a little longer. High temperatures have delayed the arrival of cold weather, and that has also affected sales. “The weather has been very good, warm. Now it seems to be getting a little colder and people are starting to buy some,” José says. He hopes the arrival of Christmas will encourage more people to stop by the stall.
FORTY YEARS ENDURING THE COLD AND LONG WORKDAYS
Behind the welcoming image of hot chestnuts lie many hours of work. José opens at 10:00 a.m. and acknowledges that some days can feel long. “You have to endure it here, many hours to make sales,” he explains. Nor does he hesitate when asked about the difficulty of his trade. “It’s hard,” he replies. When the cold intensifies, he tries to shelter inside the stall as much as possible.
Even so, there is something that keeps him coming back every year. He likes being surrounded by people. “Why would I want to be home alone? Here you see one person, then another,” he explains. After four decades in the same place, it is no surprise that many customers already know him and return every season. Some have been buying from him for years and are part of the daily routine José values as much as the business itself.
To make sure they return, José understands the importance of taking care of the product. “I have customers who come to buy from me because I also have quality produce,” he says. He has learned that throughout all these years behind the stall. “If you give them good produce, they come back. If you give them bad produce, they come to buy once and never come back.” And so, winter after winter, he continues selling chestnuts in the heart of Zaragoza.
This year, he shares the scene with seven other stalls authorized by Zaragoza City Council. In addition to his own at Plaza Sas, chestnut sellers are located at Plaza de San Miguel, Plaza Aragón, on Don Jaime opposite San Gil, Plaza Paraíso, Glorieta Sasera and at two points along Paseo de la Independencia. They may remain until March 31, 2027, within authorized hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
