‘Balat Family Grocery Store’ Serving for 65 Years in Balat

Balat Family Grocery, Serving for 65 Years in Balat

Necibe Batmaz, who has been running the grocery store in Balat for 65 years against supermarkets, is trying to keep the neighborhood culture alive without turning anyone away, following her father’s will. Operating ‘Balat Family Grocery’ in Istanbul Balat according to her father’s will, she preserves the tradition of local shopkeepers and neighborhood culture. Those who enter the store, where nostalgic toys are also found, take a journey to the past. Traces of the past, from gas lamps to clogs and coffee pots, are still present.

A Legacy Continued with Her Father’s Will: Balat Family Grocery

Necibe Batmaz, who continues to run the grocery store with her father Hüseyin Türk Yılmaz’s will after his passing, always strives to help those who come to the store without turning them away. Batmaz, stating that one of their biggest challenges is the price difference with supermarkets, continues the struggle to exist as a neighborhood shopkeeper.

Traces of a Tradition Continued with the Support of Benefactors

Necibe Batmaz explains that benefactors fully paid off the black ledger kept for customers who do not have the financial means or cannot make immediate payments, expressing emotional moments. Balat Family Grocery has become not only a grocery store but also a symbol that keeps the neighborhood culture alive.

“They Paid Off Everyone’s Debt, I Was Very Touched”

Batmaz, mentioning the existence of ledgers for those who cannot make immediate payments, shares emotional moments when she sees that customers who want to pay off the ledger end up paying off all debts. Balat Family Grocery, surviving with such support, continues to hold an unforgettable place among the neighborhood residents.