Pichincha esquina Jujuy

This iconic corner gathers several important buildings that have witnessed the passage of time in the neighborhood.

The Casino Theatre, which was opened in 1918, preserves its original structure with traces of its history. On the opposite sidewalk, stood Doña Julia's Vaudeville Theatre, owned by a woman who knew how to stand out in a male-dominated society, which became one of the main entertainment venues in the area. A few feet away, at 151 Pichincha St., was the betting shop owned by Pedro Mendoza, a prominent merchant of the time.
On the other corner, the building known as El Elegante was erected in 1914, following the typology of the brothels of the early 20th century. The windows aligned over Jujuy St. correspond to the old rooms, while the central courtyard organized the life of the brothel. The venue was owned by the famous Natan Gutgold, who also owned "Gloria", another emblematic brothel in the area.
Between 1914 and 1932, El Elegante was the venue for the intense social life in the neighborhood, marked by urban disputes and noteworthy events, such as the sex workers' strike in 1930. The women protested against the high prices that the owners charged for renting the rooms, an unprecedented demonstration at that time that quickly spread to other brothels.
After the brothel was closed, the building served several functions: it was a hotel, a motel, and a retirement home. Currently, it is being reconverted through an architectural project that seeks to preserve its heritage value, conserving details of the period, such as the vault ceilings.