“S.Hinhayat”, Egypt’s oldest watch store located in Cairo’s Maspero triangle was torn down by district workers on 5 and 6 September. The watch store was opened in 1907 by a Bulgarian watchmaker called Solomon Hinhayat and had been operating for over a century up until last July. Because its location is part of a renovation plan for the district, the district representative Boulaq Abu Ela ordered for the shops demolition. Solomon does not understand the need to demolish the entire building, arguing that the government had previously destroyed two floors of the building as a result of the 1992 earthquake. Locals have been arguing that S.Hinhayat, as well as other buildings on the 26 July Street should be regarded as heritage because the architecture is a representation of the city’s history. While owners of other shops and buildings in the area are protesting the decision and hope that they have a different fate, Ibrahim Abdel Hany, Cairo deputy governor, assured that they will carry out the demolition of all non-governmental building in the district. Buildings that are excluded from the project include the headquarters of Egypt’s state TV and radio…
