Since 2007, 11 Anchieta Street has celebrated Portugal – a diverse national audience enchanted by nostalgia and lots of tourists seeking more than typical souvenirs. Catarina Portas' original store is now on borrowed time. This year marks the final Christmas for A Vida Portuguesa in Chiado, as the prime location in the heart of Lisbon is being forced out by the current occupants of the entire building for tourist apartments.

In a statement released this week, A Vida Portuguesa wrote, "Just as tourism helped us weather the 2008 crisis, today its own stakeholders are contributing to the demise of independent commerce in Lisbon We are not exempt. The space presently housing our store will undergo a transformation, becoming an extension of the luxury local accommodations that the building has evolved into over recent years, starting next summer."

Over the past 16 and a half years, the A Vida Portuguesa brand has thrived and expanded from this locale. Showcasing real Portuguese brands, craftsmen, vintage jars, and unique packaging, the project has garnered attention both domestically and internationally. Recognized as one of the city's ten most original stores in 2009, it earned praise from various international outlets such as El País, Marie Claire, Monocle,  The Guardian, and The New York Times.

With more than 400 suppliers across the country in areas like ceramics, textiles, the food industry, jewelry, and clothing, A Vida Portuguesa will bid farewell to Chiado at the close of next spring. However, the stores in Intendente, covering 500 square meters, and Mercado da Ribeira, with a more concise product selection, will remain open.