16.06.2026 14:51
Speaking at the ITO Assembly, Luigi Leather&Fur Board Chairman Mehmet Musa Evin criticized the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's most important shopping destinations, for being closed on Sundays. Evin emphasized that if the bazaar were open on Sundays when there are no traffic or parking issues, both local and foreign tourists could shop much more comfortably, and shopkeepers' earnings would increase.
Luigi Leather&Fur Chairman Mehmet Musa Evin criticized the Grand Bazaar being closed on Sundays in his speech at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) Assembly. Evin stated that tourists visiting Istanbul cannot shop on weekends and argued that the historic bazaar should be open on Sundays as well.
"IF OPENED ON SUNDAYS, MUCH MORE BUSINESS COULD BE DONE"
Evin, drawing attention to the fact that all major shopping centers and bazaars worldwide also operate on the last day of the week, touched upon the reasons for the failure of past trials. Evin said in his speech:
"All shopping centers and bazaars around the world are open on Sundays. If you open on Sundays as well, you'll probably do much more business. It was tried a few times before during my term. Back then, jewelers were the majority in the Grand Bazaar. They didn't want to open, saying 'there's a security vulnerability.' But now the number of jewelers has decreased, so I think they should also evolve towards this."
"SHOPPING OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT TRAFFIC AND PARKING ISSUES"
Stating that Sundays offer a great advantage for both local and foreign visitors, Evin said, "Tourists shop and wander much more comfortably on Sundays. Turks can easily enter and exit here and shop. There would be no parking problem, no traffic problem," calling on the Grand Bazaar tradesmen and management.