In A 114-Year-Old Istanbul Inn, Tea Still Travels Between Floors By Basket And Pulley
In Kuru Kahveci Hanı, a 114-year-old han (a historic commercial building) in Istanbul's Eminönü district, tea and coffee orders are delivered with a hand-operated basket and pulley system that has been in use for years. Necmi Cebeci, 73, who has run the building's tea room for about 55 years, sums up the pace of the work in a few words: “A machine would not last.”
Necmi Cebeci runs the tea room of Kuru Kahveci Hanı, which he took over from his father 55 years ago.
The historic Kuru Kahveci Hanı in Eminönü is home to tradespeople from many different lines of business, from glassware sellers to luggage wholesalers. Its tea room is run by Necmi Cebeci, who took it over from his father 55 years ago. Necmi Cebeci starts work between 06.30 and 07.00 every morning and delivers orders across the five-storey building with a manual basket and pulley system.
Talking about the building's routines and the people who work there, Necmi Cebeci said: “I have been here for about 50 to 55 years. We run this tea room, which was handed down from my father. This is a 114-year-old historic han that has long been used as offices.”
Customers call out their orders, and the basket and pulley carry them up to the floors of the building.
Describing the pulley and basket system he uses to deliver orders, Necmi Cebeci said: “Customers call out, we pull it up with the basket, the customers take it. Sometimes our colleagues carry it, but this basket does the work of two or three people.”
He added: “Because we are the ones pulling it, nothing spills. We are used to it and we have been doing this for years, so nothing spills. This is a very good thing for us, and since the customers are used to it too, they take their order themselves.”
The tradespeople in the building say they are happy with the service.
Describing the busy pace of the building, Necmi Cebeci said: “A machine would not last. We arrive at the same hour and leave at the same hour.”
Mehmet Polatdemir, who owns a luggage business on the top floor, said: “Our tea men have been here for 55 years. When we order tea or coffee, they send it up the old-fashioned way with the lift system. Their tea is good, their coffee is good, their service is good.”
Source: DHA
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