E4. Al-Shawarbi Passageway
Superblock: | E. Al-Shawarbi Superblock |
Genealogy: | Formally pedestrianized |
Morphology: | 2 Entrances - angle |
Area: | 3032m2 |
Average Width: | 14.7m |
Length: | 217m |
Total number of premises: | 59 |
Dominant activities: | Retail |
Al-Shawarbi Street used to be a very vibrant street connecting Abd al-Khaliq Tharwat and Qasr al-Nil Streets. In the mid to late 1970s, when Egypt was going through an economic transformation from a state-led economy to an open market policy of Infitah, al-Shawarbi was the only place in Egypt where you could buy exclusive, imported goods. It became a sign of status to buy something from al-Shawarbi. It remained an icon for quality imported goods until the 1980s, when the general decay of Downtown was underway.
Unlike the pedestrianization of al-Alfi Street and al-Bursa district, which helped revitalize those areas, al-Shawarbi Street did not share the same success, possibly due to its single use as a source of cheap clothing. A major fire in 2010 further decreased the street’s status, with 15 shops and 2 company headquarters burnt, and losses estimated at EGP15 million.