In June the Montana Shop Porto was opened, with Marta Ferreira at the helm and chef Matze manning the hobs. You read that right, the new spot in Porto is a graffiti shop that also serves food: vegan to be precise. In the heart of the city, just a short walk from the Trindade metro station, you can find this welcoming space complete with its own outdoor terrace.
Not only does the Montana Shop Porto have all the creative tools you’d expect at a Montana Shop, but the new crew also hosts events, parties and exhibitions, as well as workshops to fine tune your artwork, graffiti or design.
MTN World caught up with the shop manager Marta to find out about this new way to serve the graffiti community.
Can you introduce yourself, and tell us how you got involved with Montana Colors?
My name is Marta, I am 28 years old. I am born and raised in Porto. My relationship with Montana Colors started in 2016 when I started working as a salesperson in the Portugal area. The idea of creating a Montana Shop in Porto had been developing for a long time, and in 2019 we got the project moving.
‘The graffiti scene is quite small in Porto, I hope that it will grow with the support that the store offers to people.’
Who is part of your team?
It’s me Marta, the shop manager, and Matze who’s in charge of the bar. We hope that in the near future the team can grow!
What is the concept behind Montana Shop Porto?
The concept is basic: we don’t want to be just a place that sells spray paint. We want Montana Shop Porto to be the best graffiti shop that has ever existed in the city, a dynamic place where things happen, a place that people want to go to. So we are going to do exhibitions to push artists, events, parties, workshops and a lot of other things that we cannot talk about yet.
‘We want to have delicious, simple and soul food. We also wanted to create a concept that was friendly to the planet and that motivates people to try plant-based food and realize that it can be as tasty as animal products. At Montana Colors we have the concept of “Keep the Planet Clean” and I think it is reflected in our cuisine.’
What are the factors that led to the opening of this new flagship in Portugal?
Before there was an MTN Shop in Lisbon, which became a multi-brand store at the beginning of 2019. The Portuguese market was always very important for Montana Colors and that is why Jordi Rubio personally thought of a way to keep the colors flying in Portugal. It would not make sense to open the store in Lisbon, so we came up with the idea of opening it in Porto.
What’s the food like at the Montana Shop Porto?
We are a 100% vegan fast-food kitchen. We want to have delicious, simple and soul food. We also wanted to create a concept that was friendly to the planet and that motivates people to try plant-based food and realize that it can be as tasty as animal products. At Montana Colors we have the concept of “Keep the Planet Clean” and I think it is reflected in our cuisine. The names of items on the menu are related to the brand as well, like our “MTN FAT BURGER”, “HARDCORE CHILLI” and the “MTN94 VEGAN MILKSHAKES” which are named after the colors of the MTN94 range. Our Red Fever Milkshake is delicious!
What do you like the most about the neighborhood where the store is located?
The neighborhood is in the heart of Porto. The store is located one minute from the Trindade metro station which is the station where all lines meet.
How would you describe the community of artists who have started to pass by the shop?
All kinds of people have visited the store. From graffiti writers, train writers, street artists, illustrators, boys, girls, people who do crafts, younger children who are now starting to paint and writers with years of experience. Really, a bit of everything, and everyone is welcome because this is a store for everyone.
What’s Porto’s graffiti scene like? Do any artists or crews stand out? How would you define the local style?
The graffiti scene is quite small in Porto, I hope that it will grow with the support that the store offers to people. I’m couldn’t really single out particular artists or crews.
At the moment there is no local style, it used to exist years ago and some older writers continue to remain influenced by that style. It’s like everything in the world, I think that you have to evolve. Today there’s a lot of information and it’s normal that many styles are a mix of influences and that is also really positive.
And the street art and mural scene? Do you think that Porto has a good level of artists?
Porto has incredible artists in terms of street art and muralism. Many were promoted by the Circus Network agency, which have done an incredible job to grow street art in Porto.
Are there street art events or festivals in the city?
Not for the moment. Years ago some were held, but for years nothing has been organized. As a store, our plan is to also start to promote these events.
Where do you recommend to visitors to see the best spray can art? Any streets, neighborhoods or walls of fame?
There are many areas with street art and few walls of fame. There is a street art route that is being created in Porto and is easy to find on the internet. We are working with the local council to establish legal walls and halls of fame in Porto, but the classic old one is in Matosinhos.
Are there galleries specialized in art related to graffiti?
Yes! Check the Circus Network.
What kind of music does your Spotify playlist reflect? Why did you choose The Caver to do the cover?
Our Spotify playlist was chosen by our clients, who suggested tracks to us through our Instagram page.
I chose The Caver because he has been well connected with graffiti and street art for many years and now he’s also an illustrator. Besides, he’s made a great contribution to the world of graffiti.
What aspects of the city do you think the store will highlight? Art history in the city? Tourism, growth of the local scene?
Never before has there been such a complete store in Porto, that makes the store directly a success. Tourism is very important here and it is a city that is in a moment of great tourist growth.
Once traveling is normal and safe again, how would you encourage people to visit the shop and the city of Porto?
Porto is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, the weather is incredible, the food is great and the people are super friendly.
In the store we want to do exhibitions with national and international artists. We want to do events and pop ups in the bar with exclusive dishes. We intend to be one of the main spots for delicious vegan food in Porto.
The Montana Shop Porto is located at Travessa Alferes Malheiro, 83, 4000-060 Porto. They open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm. You can follow her on Instagram: @montanashop.porto.
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