21.01.2026 15:11
Young entrepreneur Ömer Faruk Yılmaz, who opened a chicken döner restaurant in Gaziosmanpaşa, closed his business just 40 days after its opening due to the inability to find customers amid increasing news of food poisoning.
Young entrepreneur Ömer Faruk Yılmaz, who opened a chicken döner restaurant in Gaziosmanpaşa, Istanbul, had to close his business just 40 days after opening it, overshadowed by a series of food poisoning cases.
VIDEOS HAD GARNERED GREAT INTEREST
From the very first day he rented the shop, Yılmaz shared the entire process on his social media account. He announced the rental process on October 31, 2025, and then shared the renovation and preparation stages step by step with his followers. Videos showing every detail from kitchen setup to equipment quickly attracted attention.
OPENED WITH GREAT HOPES, COINCIDED WITH UNFORTUNATE TIMING
The restaurant opened its doors on November 20, 2025. However, this venture coincided with a period when food poisoning and death cases, particularly from chicken and other foods, were frequently in the news across the country. News related to chicken products, raw meatballs, and lahmacun seriously affected consumers' dining out habits.
DECISION TO CLOSE AFTER 40 DAYS
As the expected customer interest did not materialize, Yılmaz decided to close the business about 40 days after the opening. In his last video shared under the title "We are sinking," Yılmaz recounted his experiences, stating that there were no such news during the time he rented the shop, and that the series of poisoning incidents that occurred after the opening drove people away from chicken products.
"WE COULDN'T WITHSTAND THE RENT AND EXPENSES"
Emphasizing that they did not compromise on quality in product selection, Yılmaz stated, "We used the highest quality oil, rice, and chicken, and personally managed the production process. Those who dared to try were satisfied, but we could not withstand the rent and expenses any longer."