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One of the most famous pastry shops of the last century in Barcelona was Confitería y Horno El Cisne, located at number 38 Pelai Street.
It was inaugurated in 1918 and soon gained great fame in the city not only for the traditional cakes (cocas de verbena) in San Juan and San Pedro, panallets in Todos los Santos, the Hammer of San Eloy or the Scissors of Santa Lucía, but also by the usual lionesses, doves, gypsy arms... who prepared the holidays; as well as the daily croissant, ensaimada and briox, apart from their daily bread which was one of the best in Barcelona.
In addition, Confitería y Horno El Cisne had obtained the exclusive right to market a brand of coffee that is still present in Barcelona stores today, which is La Garza coffee.
Like all those businesses that were dedicated to a medium-high public, it suffered the problems of the civil war, since it had to dedicate its production to basic necessities, which is why it was closed for a long time.
Once the war was over, the Forn del Cisne quickly returned in 1939 to resume its lost activity, but, as was logical, it had to change its name to follow the guidelines of the dictatorship, becoming from then on as El Horno del Cisne.
After its reopening, it not only continued with its previous production, but also included in its offering the preparation, exhibition and sale of Christmas products (lots and baskets), which were the admiration of the visiting public.
Like another of the many establishments that opened at the beginning of the 20th century on Pelai Street, in the 1980s it had to close, forced by the pressure they had with the arrival of emerging companies that, with the strength of their checkbooks, They wanted the former owners to leave their businesses because they could not compete with the money they offered.
Little by little the old establishments on Pelai Street began to disappear. In 2019, María de los Ángeles Capeta, a descendant of the family, published a writing in Barcelophilia which said:
"I am the only descendant of Ignacio Capeta, founder of Forn del Cisne. If you know of anyone who has worked or known the Capetas, I will appreciate your comments. My father and uncles worked in the pastry shop when they were young."
And in 2020 another person posted:
"My grandfather worked there for many years in various periods of time: from the beginning, when it was just an oven, he was a good friend of Mr. Capeta's children, who died during the war.
He worked closely with Mr. Montemat. My grandfather retired in Forn del Cisne, at the age of 77, and I think he is second in the back line, on the right side, in the photograph" (referring to a photo that the article showed).
"Mr. Montamat, owner of the business in the 1940s, half jokingly said that he would make the many couples who had formed between young bakers from the bakery and shop assistants pay a fine, with the hope of setting up their own business. He "My parents' case was something different: they continued the family business in Terrassa".
