Bandabulya shops could go bust

SHOPS in Lefkoşa’s walled city-based Bandabulya market say they could go bust due to the “double whammy” of the Covid-19 pandemic and competition from supermarkets.

Shopkeepers who spoke to CyprusToday’s sister newspaper Kıbrıs complained this week that a lack of free parking spaces is driving customers away to other shops outside the historic centre.

Mehmet Şila said: “If it wasn’t for my pension, I would not be able to pay for the expenses for this shop. It was no different before the pandemic. People prefer malls, now. Neither locals, nor tourists come.”

Another shop owner, Osman Köklüoğlu, said: “The situation is not normal. In the past, one could not take a step inside Bandabulya on Fridays due to the crowds.”

Yavuz Umar said: “Nothing will be the same again. Not only Cyprus, but the whole world has changed due to the pandemic. However, the best products are always in Bandabulya. We should sell the best quality produce to appeal the customers.”

Bekire Tatarlar said: “There aren’t any students, tourists or soldiers. The locals lost their interest [in Bandabulya] long ago. We will end up closing all the shops, I reckon.”

Ekram Tayfur said: “Our bills are due, but we cannot pay them as we don’t make any money. I don’t believe that the economy will be fixed by the arrival of university students.”

Veysi Dündar said: “Locals do not come due to a lack of car parks or they do not want to pay for private car parks.

“It is, in fact, very easy to rejuvenate Bandabulya, but the authorities are more concerned with the civil servants.”

Baki Dilekçi said: “If you sit around without producing anything, you will melt away. Bandabulya shares its customers with recently opened supermarkets. The arrival of the students will be good not only for Bandabulya but for all shopkeepers.”