Update: Check out this article by Farah Al-Nakib titled “Demolishing the history of Kuwait” published in Kuwait Times March 21st.
The old shopping street in Salmiya has gone through some major changes the past decade or so. The street that once used to be home to some of the most luxurious brands such as Gianni Versace and Gucci turned into a street full of 100 fils stores and a lot more shabbier places. Later on, a lot of the old buildings, which hold some great memories for those who lived in Kuwait the past couple of decades, were being demolished and replaced with small shopping complexes full of some more 100 fils stores or the land left abandoned. Today, one of the most popular buildings on the street is being prepared to be demolished and replaced with a “unique” mall.
When I think of “old Salmiya” I remember places such as Barakat restaurant, Fay’s Stationary, Family Bookshop, Hungry Bunny, A&W, Mr. Donuts, Kids ‘r’ Us, and Swan Lake. All those places are gone except Family Bookshop which is in the building that’s about to be demolished.
For years I had heard rumors that the street was going to be closed down for cars and was to be made into a place people can walk freely, returning some good stores, restaurants and coffee shops. Apparently, just rumors.
What do you think of all this?
Pictures of the building about to be demolished:
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
DAMN THEM STEALING MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES!
I’m actually happy about this as I like change and frankly I no longer go to this place anymore and I would guess that you guys don’t go there any more as well.
Not Family Bookshop! I used to get all my books from there.
I miss walking there after school…
I agree with Purg, our childhoood is being demolished.
That is exactly how I felt when I first saw Old Salmiya being stripped like this - my childhood is being erased. But at the same time, so is our collective history (as I discussed in my article which Rita linked to). No offense but it is people like “???” above who are part of the problem. They don’t mind seeing places like this torn down because they don’t go there anymore so they assume it is worthless. What people do not understand is that these are not simply buildings - they are our memories, our history. It has nothing to do with “change”. Change is fine, but change does not mean that you have to constantly erase. We have plenty of room all over the country to build new projects. What’s wrong with keeping the old alongside the new?
I was having a conversation about this with some friends a couple of weeks ago and we realized that there are very few places left in Kuwait where we can go to feel any sort of connection with our own past - our childhood. Ironically, with the way things have been going in Kuwait, we all realized that we have more areas to identify with outside of Kuwait - in London or California or wherever each of us spent significant portions of our childhood and teenage years - than we do inside Kuwait. It’s been nearly 15 years since I last saw California, where I once lived when I was younger, and yet I know that when I go back next month for the first time since 1995 I’m going to see the exact same places I used to go to as a kid. So many feelings and memories and emotions are going to come rushing back to me. Why can’t I feel that same thing when I walk down the streets of my own country?
It’s just so sad and tragic what’s going on all around us, and the apathy is what kills me even more. Last week I was taking photos of the building myself like the ones you’ve posted here, and people walking or driving past me were looking at me like I was insane. They couldn’t figure out why I was standing there taking tons of pictures of this building. I just don’t get how people are not more outraged about this!!
One quick question: If they’re going to be tearing this building down why are they putting up what looks like scaffolding? And also, when do they plan on vacating the ground floor shops?
FAMILY BOOKSHOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!
Its only my most favorite place to go to when I was a child!!!
I fogot it even existed.. shakhbareeee…
rita…..u broke my heart girl!
I have grown up in salem moubarak street…back in my times (the 1990’s) this was the main shopping street in kuwait. Sharp, Family bookshop, bambino, BHS and Mothercare, which are connected together via the basement; lol I used to get into one shop and get out from the other when i was a little kid. I still remember how crowded this street becomes with every holiday. There were times were you would have to struggle among the crowds just to pass! I still recall the middle of the street, were cars weren’t able to get into…..and there was many ice-cream and juices kiosks to get some refreshments. How can I forget toys”r”us, hungry bunny and pizza hut? No to mention the fery biudling that is to be demolished
How could they do this? I’m really sorry it came down to this. This street has been my daily hang out throughout my childhood