Erbil Ziya and Ye Olde English Corner Shope

Aysesdaddy



Joined: 21/03/2009
Posts: 392

Message Posted:
31/07/2009 10:33

When I first visited Cyprus in 1982, we found a shop in the old Turkish quarter owned by Erbil Ziya and family. This shop was a little gem in an oasis. At that time there was no supermarkets and very little English products in the main shops. You only had to ask Ziya (as he was known) and he seemed to be able to produce it from somewhere. Him and his son were both larger than life characters in apearance and personality. After his son died, Ziya gave up the shop about 10 years ago. He was often seen talking to the taxi drivers and his car was still seen around town with "Ye Olde English corner Shope" written on it. We have just heard that Ziya died last year and there didn't seem to be anything in Cyprus Today, so we didn't find out. He was one of the TRNC's characters and I am sure he is missed. Does anybody remember him?

chick


Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 323

Message Posted:
31/07/2009 16:26

Hi Aysesdaddy



Yes I remember him, he told me once that he was the only corner shop that the British had seen for years, at that time all our corner shops were in demise. As you say there was little of anything english in the shops then,good old days.

AllyTT


Joined: 13/09/2008
Posts: 188

Message Posted:
31/07/2009 17:01

Hi Aysesdaddy..



I remember him and his son too. Was saddened to hear of his death. I remember Mum used to go to the corner shop every Christmas to stock up on stuff we couldn't get anywhere else - like sausage meat for sausage rolls! I always associated the place with Christmas and hence I loved the place. I always figured it was the likes of Lemar turning in to a wannabe-Iceland that put them out of business, I hadn't realised they had both died.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
31/07/2009 17:10

It's a shame that the 'old school TC's' are getting old and dieing. Harry (Hariff?) from the Grapevine was another.



Richard

Aysesdaddy



Joined: 21/03/2009
Posts: 392

Message Posted:
31/07/2009 20:25

Whenever we went in, his first remarks were "Nigel, you are friend not customer" and he always sent the kids through the back to get an ice cream or a drink. We used to laugh because all the stock was thick with dust, and not always in date, except the fresh food of course