In 1829, Porto had no electricity, no telephones, and hardly any paved roads. It had the Douro, the Ribeira district, and paper. That year, at number 55 Largo de São Domingos, Manuel Francisco de Araújo opened a paper warehouse. He didn't know he was founding one of the oldest stationers in the world.
Almost two centuries later, the shop remains in the same building. The family is still the same. Paper remains at the heart of everything.
Founded before there was electric light in Porto
Electricity arrived in Porto in 1886. By then, Araujo & Sobrinho had already existed for 57 years.
The establishment initially had another name: "Armazém de papel ao murinho de São Domingos" (Paper warehouse at the little wall of São Domingos). Manuel Francisco de Araújo bought it shortly after Brazil's independence in 1822, from relatives of his wife who were already running the business. The location was perfect: Largo de São Domingos, in the heart of downtown Porto, near Ribeira, at a natural crossroads between city commerce and port activity.
The first products were those that were needed: paper for invoices and prescriptions, wrapping paper, scented paper. Later came soaps, fountain pens, inkwells, writing quills. The business grew with the city, and the name changed to what it remains today.
The shop that spanned centuries
Inside the shop, a panel tells what happened outside while the stationer opened its doors every morning. It has been there since 1800: the Liberal Wars of 1832, when Porto became a battlefield. The American Civil War from 1861 to 1865, watched from afar. Lincoln's assassination in 1865. The First and Second World Wars.
Each of these events reached Largo de São Domingos in some way. In paper shortages, in customers who never returned, in entire decades of uncertainty. The stationer survived it all.
At the peak of its operation, it had 600 employees and 15 shops across the country. The crises of the 1990s and the impact of digitalization forced a profound review. The shop resisted, leaner, more focused, more itself.
The building's facade preserves a unique tile panel. Inside, a statuette of Santa Catarina das Flores, typography pieces, and museum artifacts punctuate the space between products. It's not a museum. But it's close.
The fifth generation born in the building
Miguel Araújo was born in the stationery shop's building 59 years ago. He grew up among shelves of paper, the smell of ink, and the comings and goings at the counter. He is the fifth generation of the founding family and has been leading the shop for over two decades.
With his cousin Joana Araújo Jorge, of the sixth generation, he is relaunching Araujo & Sobrinho in a way the stationery shop had never experienced before: a hotel in the same block, a restaurant in Largo de São Domingos, an online shop with shipping throughout Europe, and a curated selection of international paper and writing brands that hadn't been in the catalog for decades.
The numbers reflect the effort. Growth has been consistent: 10 to 15% per year since 2017. Current customers are mostly foreign tourists, about 70%, attracted by the uniqueness of a space that functions simultaneously as a stationer, a living museum, and an architectural landmark in the heart of Porto.
International demand isn't limited to tourists. "We've been approached by an American who wanted to take the stationery shop to New York and by English people who want to open one in London," Joana Araújo Jorge told Sábado during the coverage of the 190th anniversary in 2019. For now, the priority remains Porto and online growth.
Press coverage
In recent years, Araujo & Sobrinho has been featured in several major Portuguese media outlets. Público and Sábado published detailed reports on the family's history and expansion plans. RTP and Visão included the stationery shop in pieces about Porto's historic trade and cultural tourism in Porto.
The coverage mainly focused on 2019, when the shop celebrated its 190th anniversary, but media presence has remained active since then, following the brand's relaunch and focus on the online shop.
What you'll find in the shop today
Araujo & Sobrinho's curation reflects its timeless philosophy: paper and writing objects worth having. Each brand was chosen for making things that last.
Since 1829. Always in the same family.
A stationery shop with 196 years of history, in the heart of Porto. Visit us or order online.
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What is the oldest stationery shop in Portugal?
Araujo & Sobrinho, founded in 1829 at Largo de São Domingos in Porto, is considered one of the oldest stationery shops in the world still in the hands of the same family and at the same location. With over 196 years of uninterrupted history, it is certainly the oldest stationery shop in Porto.
When was Papelaria Araujo & Sobrinho founded?
Araujo & Sobrinho was founded in 1829 by Manuel Francisco de Araújo. The shop started as a paper warehouse at Largo de São Domingos, in Porto, and has remained in the same building and with the same family for over 196 years.
Where is Papelaria Araujo & Sobrinho located?
Papelaria Araujo & Sobrinho is located at number 55 Largo de São Domingos, in downtown Porto, near Ribeira. The facade features a unique tile panel. Also available online at araujoesobrinho.pt.
Does Araujo & Sobrinho have an online shop?
Yes. Araujo & Sobrinho has an online shop at araujoesobrinho.pt, with shipping to mainland Portugal, islands, and several European countries. The selection includes brands such as TRAVELER'S COMPANY, PARKER, and YSTUDIO.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Papelaria Araujo & Sobrinho?
Araujo & Sobrinho is a stationery shop founded in 1829 at number 55 Largo de São Domingos, in Porto. Considered one of the oldest stationery shops in the world still in the same family and at the same location, it is now simultaneously a stationery shop, a cultural space, and an architectural landmark in the heart of downtown Porto.
When was Araujo & Sobrinho founded?
Araujo & Sobrinho was founded in 1829 by Manuel Francisco de Araújo. It has over 196 years of uninterrupted history in the same building and with the same family, spanning the Liberal Wars, the two World Wars, and the transformations of 20th-century commerce.
Where is Papelaria Araujo & Sobrinho located in Porto?
Papelaria Araujo & Sobrinho is located at number 55 Largo de São Domingos, in downtown Porto, near Ribeira. The building's facade features a unique tile panel and can be visited during shop hours. Also available online at araujoesobrinho.pt.
Does Araujo & Sobrinho have an online shop?
Yes. Araujo & Sobrinho has an online shop at araujoesobrinho.pt, with shipping to mainland Portugal and islands, as well as to several European countries. The online selection includes brands such as TRAVELER'S COMPANY, MIDORI, PARKER, and YSTUDIO.
How many generations of the same family manage Araujo & Sobrinho?
Araujo & Sobrinho is currently in the fifth and sixth generations of the founding family. Miguel Araújo (fifth generation) and his cousin Joana Araújo Jorge (sixth generation) are relaunching the brand.