Camden News: Ali and Sally Celik | Fortess Cafe | Kentish Town | Bail-Out | Donor

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden News - by PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 4 December 2008

Ali and Sally Celik at work in the Fortess Cafe in Kentish Town

‘All I want for Christmas is a bacon buttie with chips’

Anonymous customer’s donation throws credit crunch cafe a lifeline

A CREDIT crunch bail-out from a grateful food-lover has ensured that a debt-threatened Kentish Town café will still be open for Christmas.
The New Journal reported two weeks ago how the council sent bailiffs to Fortess Cafe to collect late payments of business rates from hard-pressed owners, father and daughter Sally and Ali Celik.
But with the bailiffs at the door, a cash injection from a publicity-shy donor has given the popular Fortess Road restaurant a stay of execution.
Angered by the fact that the Celiks had never missed a month’s rates but, because they had been late with payments several times, were being made to pay an impossible three months’ rates in advance and bailiffs’ fees, the donor handed over the cash with the words: “You are taking this and I’m not taking no for an answer,” according to a “delighted” Sally Celik.
She said: “They have insisted on remaining anonymous but I can say that it is one of our customers.
“They have known us for quite a long time, they know that we work seven days a week to try to keep our business open and serving customers. They saw what was in the New Journal and it made them very angry that the council was taking this action at a time when everyone is struggling.”
Although the gift had no strings attached, Ms Celik and her father “will definitely be paying it back when we can,” Ms Celik added.
The Fortess, which normally pays rates on a monthly basis, was ordered to pay rates up to January in advance because Sally Celik had been a few days late with her October payment.
She said that the £1,800 bill, including bailiffs fees, meant closure of the business she had run for 12 years.
Custom, according to several shopkeepers in Fortess Road who spoke to the New Journal, has been suffering from the double blows of recession and a strictly enforced parking regime, backed up by cameras.
The council collects business rates on behalf of central government but said it was being as flexible as it could be with payment plans.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: