2131  The plight of El Abrojito

Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 14:19:00 -0300
From: Janis Kenyon <jantango@FEEDBACK.NET.AR>
Subject: The plight of El Abrojito

El Abrojito is located in the barrio of Balvanera at Chile 2349. In the
1980s it was a popular place where people gathered until the early hours of
the morning to hear live music with tango singers like Roberto Goyeneche,
Alberto Podesta and Nelly Omar. Tito Bamonte knew all the tango singers,
and he invited only the best to sing in his restaurant.

I have passed by El Abrojito practically everyday for the past two years
since I live only two doors away. I didn't know why the restaurant
was closed when I moved into the neighborhood. I was curious about the
place since the walls are covered with photos of tango personalities.

In September 2002, the doors of El Abrojito were open once again. On the
weekend there was a tango singer and other entertainment. In June 2003, I
went in to talk to the manager about using the place for encounter sessions
with milongueros on Thursday afternoons. I held one of these sessions on
July 3 for a group from Australia. The restaurant closed the following
week.

In November, I had the opportunity to talk with Tito Bamonte. He had to
close his restaurant in 2000 when he became ill. The man who rented the
place from Sept 2002 until July 2003 hadn't paid any of the utility bills
which amounted to some 12,000 pesos (about US$4,000). Tito
told me he's interested in opening the restaurant again but needs a business
partner to pay off the debts.

Unfortunately, the doors of El Abrojito are still closed. I continue to
have hope that this place where the elite of tango gathered will open once
again.

Pichi de Buenos Aires
www.totango.net/milongueros.html