She lost much — and opened anew: Barbara and Sasha's boutique in Palma's Old Town

She lost much — and opened anew: Barbara and Sasha's boutique in Palma's Old Town

From an eight-shop network to a small, refined new address on Calle Santo Domingo

It is an ordinary morning in Palma's Old Town: delivery bikes ring their bells, a street café waitress wipes crumbs from a table, and a light breeze carries salt from the harbour up the narrow streets. On Calle Santo Domingo, Barbara pushes open the shop door of "Sam’s". The shop smells of leather, clean cotton and a hint of the sea — just as you would expect from a business that stands in the middle of island life.

Barbara came to the island in 2009. Originally, she and her then-husband built an online business in Germany; their summer holidays on Mallorca turned into a lasting stay. Soon brick-and-mortar shops followed: glasses, accessories, later clothing and shoes. In better years there were eight boutiques, four of them in Santanyí alone. The shops were part of everyday life — they provided structure and insights into island life.

Then the pandemic took much away. In 2020 she had to close her branches. Separation, the closures and the uncertainties of that time led Barbara to move back to Germany. In Düsseldorf she tried to get back on her feet, but a promised job fell through, savings dwindled, and the days felt foreign. A friend advised her to risk everything one more time — and Barbara followed her instincts.

In spring 2021 she stood again on Mallorcan pavement. Instead of rebuilding the old network, she decided on a manageable, more conscious step: a single shop, right next to her former premises on Calle Santo Domingo. Sam’s is not an attempt to copy the past. The name is a personal trace — after Samuel, the middle name of her son Ben.

By her side: daughter Sasha. In her twenties, she trained as an actress and found her way into the textile sector as a career changer. Her languages — Spanish, Catalan, English and German — are an asset in a neighbourhood that attracts both locals and international visitors. Sasha makes buying trips to Germany and Barcelona, selecting collections that sit in the mid-price range: good quality without customers paying extra for a big name.

The division of work is typical for mother-and-daughter teams: Barbara brings energy, intuition and a knack for the unconventional; Sasha has the eye for organisation and languages. Sometimes they argue — but most of the time the pair complement each other, and customers notice that while browsing between the racks and having a friendly chat across the shop window.

Daily life today is different than ten years ago. Many regular customers watch their spending more closely, tourists are more selective in their purchases. The economic conditions have changed, and you can feel that even in a small shop on an old-town street. Yet Sam’s offers something no online platform can replace: a place to touch, try on and linger. It is a space where people start conversations — about fabrics, sizes and sometimes about life on the island.

What does this mean for Mallorca? Stories like this are one paving stone in the bigger picture: people who want to stay instead of just coming and going; businesses that stand for everyday life as well as tourism. Similar stories and personal returns are covered in Mallorca Magic features such as A New Start with a Suitcase and Heart: Birgit Schrowange Stays Connected to Mallorca, Emigrants on the Island: Two Couples Start Anew – How Mallorca Benefits, When the Money Disappeared: How Andrea Rebuilt Her Life in Mallorca with Spanish and At the Finca near Llucmajor: How Talia Is Putting Down New Roots in Mallorca.

Barbara and Sasha did not try to do everything as before. They reduced, rethought and reopened — with a clear idea: quality at a moderate price, a friendly welcome and a shop where neighbours, residents and visitors feel at home. On a mild winter afternoon, when the shop's door is propped open, you can sometimes hear the church bells of Plaça Cort, the clink of a cup, and the light laughter of customers who have just found their favourite sweater. This is not a big comeback spectacle. It is a small, hard-earned return — and that is exactly what makes the island richer. Anyone walking Palma's alleys will find in Sam’s less a boutique than a story that continues.