24.06.2026 01:30
Famous fashion designer Cemil İpekçi, who lives in the Bodrum district of Muğla, rebelled against the exorbitant prices at municipal enterprises with a video he shot at Mahfel Cafe, a subsidiary of the Bodrum Municipality. Criticizing the sale of a coffee for 80 TL and a hamburger for approximately 500 TL in harsh terms, İpekçi said, "Municipal enterprises are not private companies seeking profit. Where will low-income citizens go with these prices?" and called on the Bodrum Municipality to reduce the prices.
Famous fashion designer Cemil İpekçi, who has been living in the Bodrum district of Muğla for many years, targeted the exorbitant pricing policy in municipal enterprises with a video he shot at Mahfel Cafe, an affiliate of the Bodrum Municipality. In a statement shared on his social media account, İpekçi strongly reacted to a coffee being sold for 80 TL and a hamburger for approximately 500 TL, emphasizing that public facilities have started to compete with private businesses.
"THERE IS NO PLACE LEFT FOR RETIREES AND STUDENTS TO TAKE SHELTER"
Recalling that municipal cafes were once an affordable alternative and a social refuge for low-income citizens, the famous designer stated that the current prices are incompatible with the concept of social municipalism. Drawing attention to the general high cost of living in Bodrum, İpekçi used the following expressions:
"Municipal coffee shops and cafes have been social spaces for years where citizens could spend time at reasonable prices and retirees could sit without worrying about their pensions. Especially in a district like Bodrum, where living costs increase every day, municipal enterprises should have been a breathing point for the people. However, looking at the prices today, we see that the difference from private businesses has almost disappeared."
"A MUNICIPALITY IS NOT A PROFIT-DRIVEN COMPANY"
Specifically addressing the 500 TL hamburger and constantly rising tea and coffee prices, İpekçi argued that citizens with fixed incomes are being excluded from these venues as well. Acknowledging the operating costs but stressing that the priority of municipalities cannot be profit, the famous designer continued his criticism as follows:
"Selling a hamburger for around 500 lira is not acceptable. It is not easy for a retiree, a student, or a citizen trying to get by on minimum wage to afford these amounts. Municipal cafes exist precisely for these people. If they encounter the same prices here, where will the citizens go? Coffee has become 80 lira, soon it will probably be 90 lira. Of course, there are electricity, personnel, and rent costs. But municipal enterprises are not private companies seeking profit. The priority here should be providing affordable service to the citizens."
CALL TO BODRUM MUNICIPALITY: BRING BACK DISCOUNTS FOR THE PUBLIC
At the end of his statement, Cemil İpekçi addressed the Mayor of Bodrum and local government units, calling for an urgent revision of prices. Reminding that Bodrum is already criticized for its high living costs, İpekçi concluded his words by saying, "Prices should be reconsidered, discounts for the people of Bodrum should be reinstated. Municipal cafes should remain social spaces where citizens can sit comfortably and spend time without worrying about their budget."