Theatrical story about the first day of the Nordika Retiro remodel when picking up existing shelving.
Vividly I recall the first day of construction when I coordinated the movers and freight truck to pick up the existing shelving units in Flores. Previously I’d visited the store location during a rainy Saturday morning when there was little to no traffic, or even shoppers for that matter. People in Argentina do not like to go out in the rain, let alone on a Saturday morning in the rain.
Fast forward to weeks later, the bid for the store remodel was approved by the clients and construction was set to begin. I arrived at the store location and quickly noticed a much different scenario than the peaceful rainy day when I first measured the existing shelving.
It was a weekday, the sun was shining and the street was packed with parked cars on both sides. Only a one-way stream of cars snailed through all the commotion as pedestrians weaved their way between shops and the moving cars. Sidewalk vendors in front of the store were selling knockoff handbags and sunglasses, which only added to the bustle.
Oh shit, now this is going to get interesting!
Minutes after arriving with the movers, I received a phone call from the freight driver Raul giving us notice that he would be there in 30-minutes and that he had scheduled another move for later that same afternoon.
Time was ticking and there was no margin for delay.
Quickly the movers began to bring the shelving units down the three flights of stairs. Let me just say, these are big guys built for heavy lifting, so the cardio workout from the flights of stairs really slowed them down as the moving truck was almost set to arrive.
Meanwhile outside on the sidewalk I was observing that there was no room to park the large moving truck. I felt my hands tingle as I quickly spotted a double decker tour bus parked down the street where the driver was awaiting his passengers. I talked with the bus driver to determine when he’d be leaving, then asked for some help from the sidewalk vendors hoping they could help me block off the spot while the moving truck slowly circled the block.
Everything was all arranged as best as it could be imagined.
Minutes later I watched what seemed like a movie scene from a musical play out before my eyes. Honestly, I wish I had recorded it! The friendly bus driver waved to let me know he’d be pulling out of the spot. I called Raul to determine where he was, which was about the third loop around the block with the truck, then signaling to the street vendors I watched as two guys with a pole full of dangling handbags took the place of the bus.
Cars stacked up in the street as the bus pulled out, then a slow wave of traffic periodically stopped and attempted to park in what seemed like many available spots. Drivers honked and cursed at the street vendors for taking up parking space. I explained to a few drivers that the spot was being reserved for a moving truck, but in return I got a few glares, cursing and some laughter. Finally in the distance I saw the large moving truck with its flapping tarp and smoke barreling out of its exhaust pipe, as it slowly approached, the street vendors flagged the driver into the spot.
Raul jumped out of the truck and flew open the back doors. “All set, he asked?”
“Yeah all set,” I replied as the movers started stacking the pieces into the large flatbed truck.
Good morning, Flores.
CALZACORTA 