TEL AVIV - Most Israelis are unfamiliar with the history of Tel Aviv’s first refreshment stand, but old-time residents will never forget it.
Fortunately, present-day visitors can recapture some of the magic at the recently reconstructed kiosk.
Located at the corner of Herzl Street and Rothschild Boulevard, the stand serves as testament to Tel Aviv’s rapid growth.
When dropping by, keep in mind the sea was once visible from the spot, an almost unfathomable realization in view of today’s urban sprawl.
The stand opened to the public in 1910 and served as a meeting place for the city’s elderly and young.
Every night, couples would also stop by before continuing for a stroll in the sands that dominated the landscape at the time.
As opposed to today’s trendy coffee shops, the stand did not offer a selection of lattes macchiatos or cappuccinos, and did not quite resemble a Starbucks branch.
However, the small, hexagonal structure did offer some of the most popular products made in the country, including sweet and sour pop and sweet smoothies. Yet despite its distinguished history, the structure was demolished in 1989.
The city that never stops?
The stand’s reconstruction project took five years to complete and cost USD 70,000. The restoration is an exact copy of the original structure, based on its appearance in photographs and illustrations.
As modern-day construction regulations require that structures be larger than the stand’s original dimensions, it had to be “enlarged.”
However, aside from the size difference, it is virtually identical to the original.
Moreover, beyond the obvious nostalgic aura surrounding the stand, some past menu items are once again being offered to customers today.
Tourist guide Shula Wiedrich says plans to build the stand in 1910 were initially met with resistance. One objector warned the sunflower seeds sold there would “make the neighborhood dirty and attract horses and donkeys.”
Eventually, it was agreed the stand would offer only non-alcoholic beverages and close down by 11 p.m.
Israelis would likely find this “curfew” particularly amusing, as today locals commonly refer to Tel Aviv as the “city that never stops.”
The opening of the stand was a milestone in the city’s cultural and social development.
Tel Aviv was not known for cafés and restaurants at the time, and Wiedrich says it was a while before chairs were placed outside for the benefit of customers.
Local café culture gathered steam only after World War I, following the arrival of German Jews. Before that, says Wiedrich, there was one cafe opened by German Christians, but no Jewish-owned ones.
The trendiest place in town
Tel Aviv’s first refreshment stand was also the city’s trendiest nightspot, partly because it featured the first streetlight in town.
Neighborhood residents would flock to see the new wonder, and then order a soft drink at the nearby stand. The spot’s special atmosphere also turned it into a magnet for artists, poets, and authors.
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai is credited with initiating the reconstruction project.
He says the idea came up while he was touring city streets and noticed the stand he enjoyed frequenting, as a youth was no longer there.
The stand’s reconstruction is not only a nostalgic act, says Michael Weiss, who was charged with completing the project along with fellow architect Yuval Eitan.
Weiss says the stand is an example of better urban planning that combines older elements with modern structures.
“The compact style and modest dimensions make it a piece of urban furniture and not just another coffee shop or stand,” he says.