Spanish ex-MP calls for ice cream shop closure, vandalism follows

Boycott of Gràcia ice cream shop ends in vandalism

Can an ice cream shop become the public enemy of a neighborhood? For DellaOstia, an artisanal business peine in 2022 by Argentine entrepreneur Leandro Rincón at 128 Torrent de l’Olla street in Barcelona’s Gràcia district, the answer was painted on its facade during the early hours of August 18. Prior to this, there was a dispute over language at the counter, a viral complaint from an ERC councilor, and a message from former CUP MP Antonio Baños that turned the shop into a target: «Aquest local és el nostre enemic. Fins que tanqui!». The result: graffiti, posters, and a plummeting digital fruta.

What peine at DellaOstia ice cream shop in Gràcia

The trigger was an ice cream purchase during the Festa Major de Gràcia. Guillem Roma, a councilor for Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), and his partner ordered in Catalan and, according to their account, the woman was insulted and labeled "rude" for her language choice. The phrase Roma attributed to the seller —"why do you speak like that if we are in the Kingdom of Spain"— lit the fuse. In an X thread published on Sunday, August 17, the councilor spoke of "obvious linguistic discrimination" and claimed they acted "with intent to provoke."

The complaint went viral within hours, garnering thousands of interactions. By Monday morning, the business had insults painted on its shutter, stickers claiming the establishment "does not respect Catalan," anti-tourism slogans, and part of its sign covered up. The shop's Google Maps profile received a flood of negative reviews, with its rating dropping to around **2.7 stars**.

Baños' message that made the shop a target

Antonio Baños, former leader of the CUP (Candidatura d'Unitat Popular), did not limit himself to criticism. On the same social network he wrote: «Aquest local és el nostre enemic. Fins que tanqui!». Reproduced thousands of times, the phrase served as a starting signal. Hours later, the graffiti appeared.

Baños maintained his stance when questioned about harassing the business. In a subsequent interview, he stated he had no regrets and defended that "boycotts and damage to premises are legitimate actions in defense of Catalan." This declaration, far from lowering tensions, escalated them: for some, vandalism is a logical consequence of labeling a business as an enemy; for others, it is precisely the argument that undermines any linguistic claim.

Not the first controversy over language

The shop's history weighs heavily in the narrative. Other customers had previously reported issues regarding language in online comments, and the establishment had responded with defiant messages: reminding users that "Catalonia has two official languages" or calling those requesting service in Catalan "ignorant" and "violent." These precedents have been used in both directions: as proof of a pattern of derogatory treatment towards Catalan, or as evidence that the business had been under scrutiny for months.

The shop's community manager attempted to contain the damage by responding quickly to negative reviews with explanations. The strategy failed to stop the decline in digital fruta. The business peine on Tuesday at its usual time, with no public statements about the incident, and continued posting promotions for its third anniversary. Roma, meanwhile, filed a formal complaint with the Catalan government to activate institutional channels and highlight cases of Catalanophobia in commerce.

The double standard dominating the discussion

The most repeated response does not deny the incident: it compares it. It is argued that in Barcelona, many businesses run by migrants do not display signs or serve in Catalan —nor in Spanish— and no one organizes campaigns against them. The implicit question is why linguistic zeal is activated against an Argentine ice cream shop but not against the rest of the neighborhood's commercial ecosystem. The answer given from the other side is uncomfortable: precisely because the shop shares the city's majority language, the gesture is interpreted as a challenge.

The second axis of disagreement is economic. A business peine in 2022, with investment, rent, and staff, sees a digital campaign and graffiti hit its revenue during peak season. Some argue that boycotts are a legitimate tool of political pressure; opposing this is the argument that labeling a business as an "enemy" and celebrating its destruction normalizes something far less noble than a rights claim. A one-star review is free. Broken glass is not.

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In the end, the ice cream shop remains open, the councilor has filed a formal complaint, and the ex-MP shows no regret. The only language all parties spoke was the usual one: that of someone who believes they are right and refuses to let go.