European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Turkish marketplace chock full of goods photos by Jim Derheim two camels wait for their owner outside the Gate of to Ciurlik a Turkey. By Dave Walczak staff writer it s past 9 30 p.m., but the Bustle of buyers shows no sign of slackening. The american Consumers have at least another hour to make their purchases in the Alley and its dozens of turkish storekeepers Are anxious to accommodate them. Nalley establishments 14-hour shopping Days Are not the exception. The buying Mecca is not an Alley at All but a Road that skirts the main Gate at in Ciurlik a. It got its name in the 1960s when Neon and Asphalt were As rare As shopkeepers who refused to bargain. The Alley has retained a rustic character despite the addition of modern lighting billboards and More than 50 stores since the 1960s. A Road resurfacing project has resulted in piles of Concrete chips that limit parking. Shoppers Are bombarded by dust spewed up by the cars and mopeds that Dodge the Chuck holes in the dirt covered Roadway. Children some As Young As 6, Dart Between cars and shoppers to peddle strawberries or multicoloured maps of Turkey. Other children with outstretched hands prowl the area begging for coins. To o turkish tourist policemen stand idly on the sidewalk wearing White uniforms and red berets. Two camels gaze straight ahead. But it s what s inside the stores that really draws the americans Only some of whom Are stationed at in Ciurlik t hundreds of airmen Are assigned to temporary duty at in Ciurlik every year and they continue to spread the word about the Alley a so much so that Many local store owners Are As familiar with names like Pitburg a West Germany Torrejon a Spain and Raf Lakenheath England As is the personnel chief of Safe the first Stop for Many american shoppers is big Johns where buyers can Purchase everything from Copper pots to Pistachio nuts. The owner Kemal , decided to adopt the big John nickname when he left his Uncle s employ in Adana to open a store of his own in 1971. Business has been Good the past 19 years for Dag Tekin. His original one Story Enterprise measured 9 by 24 feet. Today his shop is nearly four times As Large and includes a second floor Dag Tekin says his prices Are fair and he and eight other big John s employees do not bargain Over them As is customary in some parts of Turkey. Like most shopkeepers in the Alley Dag Tekin quotes his prices in dollars or turkish lira. Sharon Brink an air Force staff sergeant assigned to Kirin Ciurlik describes herself As a regular customer at big John s Quot i like this place i buy anything that catches my Eye like turkish towels. Big John s has Good prices. I would t question . Ranking with big John s in popularity is yellow Star carpet a year old shop owned and operated by the Golayan Nihat. Quot we always had american customers. In the old shop in Adana Quot gokay says referring to Turkey s fourth largest City about 10 Miles from in Ciurlik a. Quot they say w h y Don t you co me to t he Alley Quot h i s store feat ures More tha n 1,500 rugs a n Ging i n Price from $200 to $6,000. Quot we usually sell in dollars he says Quot but if people want to pay in turkish lira what can i say Quot upstairs Amanda Pofahl is seated in a chair sipping Tea checking out rugs. Her husband capt. Michael Pofahl an f-16 Pilot assigned to Torrejon sits next to her bouncing baby on his Lap. Quot i read up on this just so i can shop Quot she says turning Over a Burgundy coloured Cotton and Wool Rug. Quot see How tightly Woven this one Al she describes the Sari Yildez Brothers As Quot Good Guys 4 stripes Magazine july 26, 1990
