Taksim Square flower vendors to have roofs
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Aslı Sağlam
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 01, 2008 00:00
ISTANBUL - The famous flower vendors of Taksim Square have been there for more than 30 years yet never had a roof over their flowers. Open 24 hours, the vendors will now enjoy shelter thanks to a new project by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. By the end of the week, they will be selling flowers in newly built shops.
The flower vendors are a symbol of Taksim Square, selling flowers from plastic buckets, keeping warm by the fire and keeping stands open 24 hours.
The famous flower vendors of Istanbul’s most crowded square are trading in their makeshift tents and buckets of water for more modern amenities like walls and internal plumbing as the municipality builds stores for them to peddle their colorful selections from.
These cheerful and talkative people know the business better then any other florists because most of them have been there for more than 30 years.
New shops
They always wanted a roof over their flowers and now their wish has come true. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has started building shops for them. The nine stands, which look like shanties, have been brought forward so construction can be done without disrupting flower sales. The vendors all looked happier than usual when construction of the shops began.
Buying flowers from auctions, Taksim Square’s flower vendors pay rent, electricity bills and tax, and once they move into their small new shops, they will also pay water bills. When asked about the rents of the new flower shops, they said they had not been informed about the new prices.
Tarık Ağaçkıran, the florist on the right of the line of stalls, said he has been taking care of his stand for 10 years. Working with his father-in-law Ağaçkıran said, they saw what the project would look like before construction started. "We will have cupboards and benches inside our shops," he said. "The best thing is that we will have shutters, so we can close the shop and leave."
Vendors happy to have shops
The rearrangements in the square planned by the municipality include the reorganization of the corner where the flower vendors stand. Ağaçkıran said the project started with renovation works on the historic building in the square, which used to be a water tank and is now a museum.
"The museum will open its doors to visitors Dec. 27 and by then we will be selling flowers in our newly built shops," he said. Stating there had been gossip they were going to move the stands elsewhere, Ağaçkıran said, "Istanbulites apprehensions dissolved with Mayor Kadir Topbaş’s assurances to the contrary. It was not only us, but also our customers who were relieved."
They are now happy to have shops where they can sit and turn their heaters on during winter.
The flower vendors operate 24 hours and most of them do not have anyone to leave the shop with. The economic crisis has affected flower sales as well, the flower vendors said, adding every customer was bargaining prices.
Another flower vendor, Ayşegül Yorgun, appeared to be very busy, despite complaining of the economic crisis. "This stand has been here for 40 years and I have been working here for 15 years," she said. Yorgun who took over the flower stand from her mother-in-law is proud of the job she is doing. She said the project made them feel important for once in this bustling city. Unlike Ağaçkıran, she said there has always been competition between the nine stands right next to each other.
A hard life
Sevim Evdedurmaz, one of the oldest flower vendors in Taksim Square, said Topbaş promised to build flower shops for them four years ago. Working for 37 years carrying water barrels from her house each day and arranging flowers, Evdedurmaz said during the day it was the women’s turn to take care of the stands and sell flowers and when it got dark, the men took over. "It is a tough life, we cannot go to visit our friends, we cannot spend time with our families and even if there is a funeral we cannot just close our stands and go," she said.
Just as experienced as Evdedurmaz, Derya Barın also complained about the hard work. Selling flowers for 36 years from the same spot, Barın said after all these years they had spent on the street, after freezing during winters and sweating during the summer, she was looking forward to brand new shops to sell flowers.
Even though they make a scan living, they appreciated the municipality's new project allowing them to rent the new flower shops.
The famous flower vendors of Istanbul’s most crowded square are trading in their makeshift tents and buckets of water for more modern amenities like walls and internal plumbing as the municipality builds stores for them to peddle their colorful selections from.
These cheerful and talkative people know the business better then any other florists because most of them have been there for more than 30 years.
New shops
They always wanted a roof over their flowers and now their wish has come true. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has started building shops for them. The nine stands, which look like shanties, have been brought forward so construction can be done without disrupting flower sales. The vendors all looked happier than usual when construction of the shops began.
Buying flowers from auctions, Taksim Square’s flower vendors pay rent, electricity bills and tax, and once they move into their small new shops, they will also pay water bills. When asked about the rents of the new flower shops, they said they had not been informed about the new prices.
Tarık Ağaçkıran, the florist on the right of the line of stalls, said he has been taking care of his stand for 10 years. Working with his father-in-law Ağaçkıran said, they saw what the project would look like before construction started. "We will have cupboards and benches inside our shops," he said. "The best thing is that we will have shutters, so we can close the shop and leave."
Vendors happy to have shops
The rearrangements in the square planned by the municipality include the reorganization of the corner where the flower vendors stand. Ağaçkıran said the project started with renovation works on the historic building in the square, which used to be a water tank and is now a museum.
"The museum will open its doors to visitors Dec. 27 and by then we will be selling flowers in our newly built shops," he said. Stating there had been gossip they were going to move the stands elsewhere, Ağaçkıran said, "Istanbulites apprehensions dissolved with Mayor Kadir Topbaş’s assurances to the contrary. It was not only us, but also our customers who were relieved."
They are now happy to have shops where they can sit and turn their heaters on during winter.
The flower vendors operate 24 hours and most of them do not have anyone to leave the shop with. The economic crisis has affected flower sales as well, the flower vendors said, adding every customer was bargaining prices.
Another flower vendor, Ayşegül Yorgun, appeared to be very busy, despite complaining of the economic crisis. "This stand has been here for 40 years and I have been working here for 15 years," she said. Yorgun who took over the flower stand from her mother-in-law is proud of the job she is doing. She said the project made them feel important for once in this bustling city. Unlike Ağaçkıran, she said there has always been competition between the nine stands right next to each other.
A hard life
Sevim Evdedurmaz, one of the oldest flower vendors in Taksim Square, said Topbaş promised to build flower shops for them four years ago. Working for 37 years carrying water barrels from her house each day and arranging flowers, Evdedurmaz said during the day it was the women’s turn to take care of the stands and sell flowers and when it got dark, the men took over. "It is a tough life, we cannot go to visit our friends, we cannot spend time with our families and even if there is a funeral we cannot just close our stands and go," she said.
Just as experienced as Evdedurmaz, Derya Barın also complained about the hard work. Selling flowers for 36 years from the same spot, Barın said after all these years they had spent on the street, after freezing during winters and sweating during the summer, she was looking forward to brand new shops to sell flowers.
Even though they make a scan living, they appreciated the municipality's new project allowing them to rent the new flower shops.