2010 is parting in a few days and it seems like it is taking away one of Gemmayze’s landmarks with it!
According to this article from The Daily Star, Ahwet El Ezez will soon shut its doors after losing a legal battle with the building owners regarding the continuation of pre-civil war rents.
The premises will now return to the building owners, who have been embroiled in legal disputes with the café for years over the continuation of pre-Civil War rents.
What will become of it now remains unknown. Building owners have assured conservationists that the site will not be demolished but speculation is rife over what will become of one of central Beirut’s last traditional cafés, with rumors circulating it will be turned into a new snazzy bar, maybe even a Starbucks or a bank branch.
Do you think it is time for us to finally accept that those small pieces of Beirut’s heritage are not meant to last forever or at least survive the real estate boom in the city?
Unfortunately! How sad 🙁
I dont think it’s unfortunate, neither sad. The building owners deserve decent rent, if they want to continue to run it as it is currently run, then pay the owners a fair rent, not $500 a year which is what they are probably paying now.
Yes, I’m all for preserving these cultural establishments, but not at the cost of property owners who are losing money stuck in a rent law dating back to the 50’s.
Much as I would have liked this cafe to stay, it was unfair for the owners to be payed pittance for such a prime property. As long as they don’t take down the building it shouldn’t be too bad, so hopefully they will keep the building’s atmosphere in whatever else springs up there.
@LebExile & @nona
The renting fees is of course unfair to the building owners if the contract dates back to the pre-civil war days… I actually think it’s most probably Ahwet El Ezez’s management who should be blamed for not accepting to amend the contract terms. And now they’re betting on taking all their customers with them!
Anyway, let’s see what is going to replace it!
‘Pre-civil war rents?’ Now that is just ridiculous. I’m all for supporting Lebanese cultural and social landmarks, but not if they refuse to adjust their rent to something that is more appropriate to modern times! Pre-civil war? That’s just too much.
@Danielle
It not very uncommon to find some people paying less than $300 for their apartment rent per year in Beirut! It’s unfair of course, but they’re protected by the law…
To all of you, thanks for your comments, but don’t you think that you had to know the truth before judjing ahwet l ezez management?
I am angele abi haidar owner of ahwet lezez and we were struggeling for more than ten years with the owner of the building through a legal battle. We much more than hundred times tried to find a compramise with him to compensate for the old rent but the owner didn’t agree. And we were paying all our legal obligations. But this is justice and this is the new Lebanon…….
Any way Ahwet L Ezez is a brand and it will continue through ages by the ones who made it, who love and who will preserve. Ahwet L Ezez is now in Antelias with its tradition, service, spirit and integrety, because this Lebanon and that how it should be.
I think akhweet il Ezez is doing well. The owner can surely pay the landlord a decent rent.
Unless some undisclosed information were behind the closing down of the premises, i see no harm in their being evicted. They are not an old person or a family being thrown on the street. The landlord deserve to make well on his property.
@Angele Abi Haidar
We never judged you, my comment on the post was more like a speculation, since the article claimed that the dispute was over the continuation of pre-civil war rent.
If there was really no reason for your eviction other than the owner’s determination to just get back his property, then I personally see it quite normal… although I’m sure everyone in Gemmayze will miss it.
Wish you all the luck!
I don’t like the small erosion of authentic places in Beirut. In summer, we received tourist friends from Finland. When they left after 3 day, the only regret of the women (they were a couple) – according to her – is to have missed “Le Chef” in Gemmayze (when we went it was late and had already closed). Although I don’t really understand what they deal with such a small, and decrepit place, it is a lesson to be learned. I think they should establish a committee or some organization with legal power to study this matter and control all requests to move or close down or modify places with a traditional status.
Regarding the Legal dispute mentioned above, I although thought that it was unfair for ahwet ezez to make big money, yet pay old rent. Old rents are an aberration to the Law of free concurrence and free markets. But after the reply above from someone claiming to be the owner of Ahwet Ezez, it seems the matter is more complicated then I though, so I don’t want to give an opinion. Just sad to see landmarks treated in this way – from several aspects. I did not even know ahwet ezez was such an old place. These places should be advertized, protected… and have a special rent law. Anway good luck to Ahwet Ezez. I never really cared about this place – Arabic music is not my style. But now I wish it would stay.
Dear all,
For all of you who cared and loved any of the authenticity of Ahwet L- Ezez gemmayzeh,
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Regards,
we care about ahwet L EZEZ SOW in gemmayzeh more than antelias and we missed her there (elie)w to C F
There ought to be a middle ground between the wild overpriced rents (N thousands per month) and the almost-for-free old rents.
Some kind of protected, regulated rent.
I am dreaming again.