‘Bukra Bi Filloo’, book on old shops in Lebanon

In an interesting review on March 21, L’Orient Le Jour daily shed light on a book by young writer Bilal Salameh entitled ‘Bukra Bi Filloo’ (tomorrow they will disappear) featuring old shops (dakakeen) in Lebanon. Salameh started his journey in search of folklore shops, where he photographed and documented the stories of 9 of those ‘dakakeen’ located in the capital. Later on, he headed to Byblos, Balat, Laklouk and Chouf on foot for inadequate funds to complete the book which seeks to expose and portray the life cycle of each unique ‘dukkan’, as he mentioned. Salameh told L’Orient Le Jour that all the 9 ‘dakakeen’ in Beirut which he photographed and spoke to their owners boast a common trait. Each of these shops has outlived the civil war, Salameh expounded, has been renovated and is still managed by the same owner. Yet, the shelves inside them are empty and engulfed with dust, Salameh lamented, as few street goers appear at their doors. Most shopkeepers are nostalgic to the old busy days, Salameh said, pointing to their doggedness in inviting friends or customers to come share a coffee with them. An invitation, Salameh explained, that was considered a luxury in the old days when these ‘dakakeen’ were the only places that sell products and shop owners too busy to take a break. 

(L’Orient Le Jour, March 23, 2017)