Until five-thirty in the morning when it was officially announced by the police and security forces that the terrorist who carried out the horrific attack last night (Thursday) at the Ilka Bar in Tel Aviv, some business owners near the scene were not at all sure they would be allowed to reopen to try and return to routine. After the announcement of the liquidation, and with a slight delay, some of the places were opened and slowly the crowd also returned.
Part of Dizengoff Street is still closed to traffic, as of this morning, and among many (relatively) curious, photographers and media people, there are also quite a few restaurants and cafe owners from the area, where there are quite a few, for whom this is another blow after previous forced closures due to Corona affairs. Security situation and more.
"We closed at eight o'clock and at the time of the attack, only the person in charge of the shift who was in charge of closing matters remained at the scene," says
Itzik Cohen, manager of the Lavit cafe
on the corner of Dizengoff and Jabotinsky streets.
"Until 11 o'clock the police did not allow him to go out and he remained closed on the spot. Some of our regular customers who live nearby and were aware of the situation offered him to spend the night with them."
"Towards four in the morning I looked at the phone and did not know whether to open or not because there was no knowledge of the terrorist's arrest, but then when it was announced he was killed there was no bar to open. The feeling is very hard this morning and the street here is empty Because slowly, awakening begins and people begin to arrive. "
"Once we realized it was possible and did not endanger us or our customers, we did not think for a moment about not opening, it is impossible to stop the routine. This Friday is unusual and unconventional, the place is usually full during these hours and so are other places here in the area, but we We try to broadcast business as usual, as much as possible, "Cohen concluded.
Orna Raskin, owner of the Keaton restaurant
near the arena, said: "Although we woke up to a difficult morning and still need to give support to the staff in light of what they saw and experienced. Despite their fear of getting back into business today, I "But for the sake of the staff, mental health and the desire to return to routine, we will open the place. As a business that has been in Dizengoff for 77 years and knew all the terrorist incidents and wars, our strength is in mental survival, first as human beings and then as business owners."
"It was important for us to arrive
and open on a day like this. Once we knew the terrorist was caught, we knew we wanted to get back to routine, we were happy to find that customers were coming."
The owner of the "Papa Jones" chain, Moti Richter
, said: "Our branch is down the street from the scene of the attack and the commotion yesterday on Dizengoff Street was at its peak, but despite that we decided to open the business today and maintain the Israeli routine because we are not rewarded for terrorism. And on behalf of the entire Papa Jones family, we send our condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones and pray for the recovery of the wounded. "
"Everyone came to work, despite everything"
The anxiety of starting a business this morning and hurting a sense of personal security is, of course, beyond businesses on the Dizengoff Street axis only but also other business owners in other crowded places in the city, who were unsure whether it was worthwhile, and whether they even wanted, to open this morning. That the desire to return to routine is stronger than anything, and the residents do leave the house, although not in the same numbers and not with the same joy of life as usual.
Israel Bar-Levi, one of the owners of the Waikap Cafe
(three branches in the south and center of the city), said this morning: We are a Tel Aviv businessman who lives in the city and is in love with it. , So it was in Corona and so it is now.
"Our employees are Tel Aviv for the most part and in spirit, and they too see the importance of daily life and they all came to work in spite of everything."
Omri Kauftail from the "Mana" restaurant
on Hayarkon Street also talks about cancellations for the evening: "We are considerate and will not charge the person who canceled the cancellation fee. But we believe that over time the situation will improve."
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