“I’m an employee of the shoe factory of next to Zahret al-Boustan Cafe. The workshop was established in the 1970s, I’ve been working here for 40 years myself, although I live in Sayyeda Zeinab near Ibn Toloun mosque. We’re not bothered by the changes in the local market, our clientele is guaranteed as we make medical and odd sized shoes unavailable elsewhere. 

This passageway used to be Saeed Street until the people at Cafe Riche expanded into the street, turning into a passageway. There’s been a legal dispute between the cafe and the municipality ever since, but nobody’s been able to do anything about it because, administratively, the front door on Talat Harb is in the Qasr al Nil district and the side door on the passageway is part of Abdin district. 

The automobile dealerships in all the passageways surrounding us are turning into restaurants or cafes: Rawwas Autos is a cafe, and the Yusuf al Guindy dealership is a tameyya place. 

Everything’s gone to hell since the revolution, the government is weak and people are scared to walk in the street. Personally, nothing bothers me except for the fact of all these people coming around to the cafes and such instead of working or doing anything useful. I’ve got no problem with our location, but a lot of people generally are having trouble with rent hikes.”