Hamra: Re-opened Horseshoe replaces closed Modca

The character of Beirut's famous Hamra Street is changing rapidly after the closure of Modca, the re-opening of Horseshoe and the relocation of Chez Andre.

The street which was known for hosting intellectual activity in the 1960s and 1970s due to the concentration of cafes and theatres, lost part of its prestige during the 15-year Lebanese civil war which ended in 1990.

When Solider announced its plans for remaking downtown Beirut, Hamra Street-lovers feared that an all-important downtown area might curtail the importance of Hamra.

To their fortune, the street held on to its status thanks to its small pubs and cafes. Yet changes over the past few months were inevitably noticed.

The popular Modca, long-serving as the abode of intellectuals and leftist activists, sold its premises to a new owner, the Vero Moda cloth shop. Leftist activists urged Modca lovers to protest the Modca owners' decision but to no avail.

On the evening of the opening of the Jack-Jones.Vero Moda, which has another branch that replaced the old Takla shop some hundred meters down the Hamra Street, leftists demonstrated during Vero Moda's opening.

The protest provoked security which arrested several demonstrators and detained them for hours before releasing them at midnight.

The street's highlight of the month besides the closing of Modca, however, was the re-opening of Horseshoe café which closed right after war years. The newly-opened café is expected to attract a whole lot of Modca's former customers.

Ali, one of Modca's regulars who now moved to Horseshoe, told Alternative that when God closes one door, he open another.

"But how much will Horseshoe be able to replace Modca's legacy is remain to be seen," he added.

The third change-of the year in Hamra's landmark's was the restoring of Chez Andre, the famous pub, to its original architectural status which consists of a 15 persons-bar. The reason behind this closure came in the aftermath of disagreement between Arthur, Chez Andre's owner and manager, and the Rbeiz Center's owner.

As a result, Arthur opened another branch on top of Starbucks. Even though different in character, the new pub/restaurant has proved to be popular all week long.

Last but not least, the Hamra Street is witnessing renovation and construction works throughout the summer season. By the conclusion of these "upgrading infrastructure" works, the street should have had a new pavement and sidewalk.