Happy birthday to Gran Via, the great street of Madrid. A Spanish language history by EL Mundo
http://www.elmundo.es/especiales/gran_via/historia/asi_fue/index.html

I remember even in the early 70's how easy it was to cross it, nowdays can be a bit hectic.In those days it was avenida de jose antonio, and it wasnt until Spain became democratic that the popular saying became the official name of Gran Via.

What are your stories on this street of Madrid?
Mine was going shopping with my mother as a kid, on the Madrid-Paris stores, then purchase by SEPU, both gone today. I believe these spaces were taken over y El Corte Ingles.

ok got it, the Madrid-Paris building is now the Cadena SER spanish media company.So much has change in Madrid,and Spain.

The motto of these stores that i frequented so much in those days, sorry if I am the only posting to myself ::)
"quien calcula compra en SEPU"
Something like ,the one who counts buys in SEPU.

yes,,I remember SEPU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hB83ipJR94

love that store, my favorite there at the time. Too bad it went out in 2002. When I go , I always take time to walk the old neighborhoods of my childhood ,it has become a habit. Will do it again next month while I am there.
The SEPU that I went is now a hipercor in near Quintana ,line 5 metro