Bank Audi is insensitive!

I really don’t understand how Bank Audi who agreed to execute the below ad to promote a new credit card is the same one who’s planning to replace one of the oldest coffee houses in Beirut, Ahwet El Ezez, with a bank!

The old man in the ad (who appears to be living in a beautiful old house) is recalling the good old days of Lebanon, when he used to commute using the tramway, and go to Saint George, Teleferique, Casino du Liban, AUB, and Carlton (which was demolished few years ago). I’m pretty sure Ahwet El Ezez fits very well in this ad, but with Bank Audi’s decision to replace it, they’re just acting like a guy who hates himself! With the memories he’s recalling, the old man in the ad would never in his life want to see Saint George being demolished for example!

Photo via Beirut Spring

I totally understand Beirut is short on spaces for big offices, but it isn’t like Ahwet El Ezez is the last available space in the city.

Bank Audi is just committing a crime against Beirut Heritage. Who do they think they are?!

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13 Responses to Bank Audi is insensitive!

  1. Bilal October 1, 2010 at 6:01 pm #

    What a bunch of hypocrites!

  2. Sareen October 1, 2010 at 6:12 pm #

    What angers me is when big corporations insist on opening companies ONLY in Beirut. Why don’t they branch out to other areas? This will reduce the amount of traffic coming into Beirut each morning. Doesn’t bank Audi have enough branches located within meters of each other? I’m referring to the clover branch in Ashrafieh and the second Audi branch facing it. A few kilometers on you can find the Audi Head offices in DT.

  3. Audi man October 2, 2010 at 10:45 am #

    This is a rumor, there is nothing to it.
    Audi was in negotiations to buy the building, but didn’t plan to open a branch there. Anyway, the negotiations didn’t go through.

  4. Marcus October 2, 2010 at 5:20 pm #

    Ummm… I don’t think Audi needs an anti-campaign. I believe in their good intentions. We don’t know the full story,

  5. Citizen Zero October 2, 2010 at 6:44 pm #

    That is hogwash.

    Audi already have a branch on Gemmayze. It’s been there for years.

  6. Rami October 2, 2010 at 7:26 pm #

    @Audi man , @Marcus , and @Citizen Zero :
    I admit I wrote this post very fast and without assuring 100% if the news is correct or not. I’ll do my best to get the full story, if it turns out to be a rumor then I definitely owe you all and Bank Audi an apology.

  7. Lebanese October 2, 2010 at 10:05 pm #

    The story is indeed a rumor. As mentioned by Citizen Zero, Bank Audi currently have a branch on Gemmayze’s street and Ahwet El Ezez is staying there for good. Bank Audi strongly believes in the Lira campaign they launched and as i heard, they are doing this huge initiative to empower the Lira by inviting people to sign a petition whereby they pledge to use the Lira onlu (i saw it on: http://www.lirapledge.com). Honestly, I find this quite humble from a huge bank like Bank Audi to launch such a campaign without aiming to sell any commercial product behind it. Way to go BA!

  8. Tarek October 9, 2010 at 11:09 pm #

    From Banque Audi after I wrote a complaint email:

    “We would like to assure you that Bank Audi has not bought and has no intention to buy ”Ahwet El Ezez” to establish a branch in Gemmayze. Please note that we already have a branch in that area.

    On the other hand, Bank Audi is committed to preserve national and cultural heritage and has in the past shown its commitment. For example, the old villa in Achrafieh-Sursock has been preserved and turned into a cultural center/ museum.”

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Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Bank Audi, I apologize | +961 - October 11, 2010

    […] I apologize October 11th, 2010 Rami Leave a comment Go to comments On October 1st I published this blog post criticizing Bank Audi for planning to buy Ahwet El Ezez in Gemmayze and turn it into a new […]

  2. Apparently, Bank Audi Is Not Planning to Buy Ahwet El 2zez | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog - October 11, 2010

    […] to Tarek, Bank Audi wrote this reply as a response to a complaint email he sent them regarding the matter: […]

  3. Ahwet Leila to replace Ahwet El Ezez in Gemmayze | +961 - February 23, 2011

    […] Ahwet El Ezez in Gemmayze February 23rd, 2011 Rami Leave a comment Go to comments After all the rumors (proved to be wrong later) about the possibility of a bank replacing Ahwet El Ezez in Gemmayze, it […]

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