Posted by Joshua
Misc | 11 Jul 07 | Comments (35)
I've been back from Barcelona for over a week, but I still haven't gotten used to my old routine. I have much to talk about (and a prize to give away!), and I couldn't be more excited. Perhaps it's because I've been overdosing on Happy Pills. Jw
Tucked literally between two buildings on Avinguda del Portal de l'Angel, the Happy Pills shop would be fairly easy to miss. That is, if it weren't for the crowd of tourists and gawkers outside the space. I had to wait more than a few minutes to get a clear shot of the facade.
One inside, you're met by a wall of various gummie candies. You pick what size "prescription" you want, then you fill the bottle up to your liking. After that, they seal the bottle with a tamper-proof cap and let you choose which label best suits your mood, in either Spanish or English.
Here were our results:
"Against the unbearable lightness of being", "Against mondays", and "Against the square root".
While the candy is your standard gummie fare (we chose sugared colas, a sort of 'gummie fruit salad' and sour cherry ropes), the process and the presentation are clean, enjoyable, and very memorable, long after the candy has been consumed- which happened very quickly.
We need Happy Pill kiosks all over the map. Franchise, anyone?
I just LOVE it! We were thinking of going to Barcelona on vacation and now I really wanna go. It would be the first stop, to try it out :P, and the last stop to get some "souvenirs".
I'd definitely purchase a small franchise if for sale in the UK
The thing that really impressed me about this place is that it adheres to a "do one thing and do it well" credo. Most candy shops that I know do their best promote sensory overload (and also are rife with stuffed animals and ribbon).
The space itself was completely amusing- just a hallway, really. US building code would never allow it- and that's really half its charm. Trying to scoop out tiny multi-colored spiders while making room for other customers can be quite a task.
That soooo rocks.... but I bet some over sensitive American *hole here in the USA would take offense to the pill bottle and sue until it was shut down... *sigh*
Great post. Europeans are so much cooler than us sometimes. This shop, quite obviously, rules.
The branding is beautiful.
it's not in catalan, it's in spanish
wow! do they have a website???
Raoul, you are correct- curse my untrained eyes! It has been corrected.
Indians need them the most, Franchisee solicited... please contact us v.secure@yahoo.co.in
great logo and brand design!
Happy Pills is good but I prefer the candies of www.papabubble.com you can see the employee making candy's
I'm extremely interested in getting a franchise out here in my country. Do you have the contact details of the shop owner or someone I can get in touch with? Do drop me an e-mail if possible, thanks! :D
That has to be one of the coolest businesses I've seen in a long time...I wish we had one here, oh that's right we do, it's called the bulk department in the grocery store. Definitely not as cool as those Happy Pills RX bottles...love that.
I'm from Barcelona and had never heard about this shop... SHAME ON ME!
Guess where I'm going this afternoon!
hi! we would like to thank everybody for the great interest in our project. we are a design studio in barcelona and are the studio responsible for the creation of the Happy Pills brand and the shop design. We love that you love it! we would like to invite you to write us if somebody has interest to open a franchise, or wants to comment anything. here is our contact: hello@m-m.es, or you are kindly invited to visit our website: www.m-m.es.
salute and be happy,
(marion+mireia+merche) m
aupa happy pills!!! aupa m-m!!! jr
hoy me he recetado "contra los dias grises"
;)
:) quebonito es lo bonito :) pastillas de felicidad.
Genius concept, I need my fix!
Sir
I need bottle of happy pills
i am in banglore india
Increible, de lo mejor en mucho mucho tiempo.
FYI, I was in Barcelona last week, and looked for this shop forever because the posting said it was on Avinguda del Portal de l'Angel. It is NOT on that street, it is on Carrer del Arcs (which connects to Avinguda del Portal de l'Angel), but it is easier to find if you look for the Architecture College as it is immediately next door, and everyone seems to know where the College is.
It is a fab shop - I bought loads, even if I'm not a candy afficionado! :)
Necesitamos algo asi en la C.D. de Mexico, hemos tenido dias muy grises.
me interesó la franquicia, comuniquense conmigo. Felicidades!!!
its really a great idea. If there's really the interest on franchising i'd like some more info about it. Im brazilian and would like to open that kind of place over here.
thanks,
cristina
Nos encanto la idea y fue de mi cuñada!!!
Please tell me theres a bin for valium too...
Sin conocerla tuve la suerte de pasar justo por delante y no pude resistir la tentación de comprar varios frascos de estos "dulces remedios" para todo tipo de males.
Simplemente genial. Uno de los mejores ejemplos que conozco de "dar valor añadido a un producto".
Unas simples gominolas nunca fueron tan deseadas
Felicidades a los autores de la idea.
loved ur idea u shold open some in mexico city, it'd be a huge success!!!
congrats!! me encanta!!
I have so been there. Isn't it a great place? We were in Barcelona last summer, and I have a picture of my sister standing in front of the place. We need more places like that, for sure.
I think we could all use some happy pills. Why thank you I'd love some.
Love it, love the store, love the candies, love the concept. I was there last Christmas as you can see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenilio/2124825159/ ... We need that here in Chicago too!
Just Lovin' it!!! And want some "Against GRE"o(∩_∩)o.. BTW, the flavor of blueberry~