The iconic building known as El Barco de La Garita, abandoned and deteriorated for more than two decades, could finally become a gastronomic and tourist landmark on the coast of Telde. Three entrepreneurs from Gran Canaria, including Ángel Medina, president of Spar Gran Canaria, have acquired the property from Banco Santander with the goal of transforming it into a high-end dining space. The project, already underway, plans to install four restaurants aimed at attracting visitors and revitalizing the area.
In an interview, Ángel Medina explained that the initiative arose from the need to end the deterioration of the building, located right on the beachfront, and restore its former glory. «It’s a shame the level of decay it has and the image it gives of a beach like La Garita,» he said. After years of negotiations, the partners finally acquired the property last December, resolving the financial issues that had stalled the project.
A gastronomic project to energize the area
The entrepreneurs’ plan is to remodel the building and lease four spaces—two on the ground floor and two upstairs—exclusively for top-tier restaurants. «We want restaurants with a well-established reputation to come here and bring something special,» said Medina. The aim is to attract renowned chefs and culinary projects that will raise La Garita’s profile as a culinary destination.
The building, about 400 square meters, is in a privileged location only seven minutes from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and enjoys an enviable climate. «Here there is everything, and what we want is to give it shine so we can feel proud,» added Medina. The initiative will not only benefit the future restaurants but also local businesses, generating a flow of customers that revitalizes the local economy.
A radical change for the locals
The opening of this commercial space will mean a radical change for La Garita’s residents, who for years lived alongside an abandoned building full of trash and vandalism. «It means removing a black spot full of misery,» Medina explained. «It dignifies the neighbors to live next to a renovated and adequate area.»
The project has been enthusiastically welcomed by the local community, which sees this initiative as a chance to improve the neighborhood’s image and attract more visitors. «La Garita deserves to be a top-level gastronomic center,» said Medina, highlighting the area’s potential to become a magnet like other destinations such as Meloneras.
A long road to recovery
Although the project is underway, there is no concrete opening date yet. Medina acknowledged that administrative procedures, such as obtaining licenses, could delay the process. However, the team is working to speed up the timelines to open the restaurants as soon as possible. «The sooner we solve this problem, the better it will be not only for us but for the whole area,» he said.
The acquisition of the property completes a process that began nearly 20 years ago when the partners first tried to buy it. «At that time, the idea was to install a supermarket, but it didn’t materialize,» Medina recalled. Now, with a focus on gastronomy, the project aims to restore El Barco de La Garita as a symbol of Telde’s coast.
A promising future
The opening of this space will not only mark the end of an era of abandonment but the beginning of a new stage for La Garita. With four first-rate restaurants, the building will become a meeting point for food lovers and a driver of development for the area. «We want people to come to La Garita and feel proud of what we have here,» concluded Medina.
The rebirth of El Barco de La Garita is undoubtedly hopeful news for the neighbors and an example of how private initiative can contribute to revitalizing abandoned spaces. Now, all that remains is to hope this project sails successfully, and finally, the “ship” reaches a good port.