“Heikki” of Heikki bar, aka Ali Bayram. Photo: Jari Kupiainen
Numerous Finns have gotten to know the Heiki bar in Alanya and its owner “Weak” eli Ali Byram.
The 48-year-old restaurateur, hotel owner and real estate agent has created his own empire by working hard, for years from early in the morning until late at night. Of course, a touch of luck is also necessary for success.
Coming from poor conditions in Cappadocia, central Turkey, Heikki experienced a turning point in his life when he was 12 years old.
– I came to work in Alanya when I was 12 years old, because there was no opportunity to go to school in Cappadocia. I was working in a restaurant in Alanya, where I met a Finnish family, Heikki tells hymy.fi.
– They often visited the restaurant as customers and we gradually became friends. One day they were customers again. I was removing the ashtray from their table and cleaning when they asked if I really didn’t go to any school. I didn’t go, when they ask if I would be interested in coming to school in Finland. From a Finn About Tapani became my adoptive father and we are still very close. He is now over 80 years old and only last week he came here to Alanya to spend a week’s vacation.
– My adoptive father is I met Krakow. I appreciate him enormously, he gave me his own lessons and I follow them now as an adult and older. He was also a restaurateur in Mäntyharju.
– That’s where it all started. Life is pretty much all about luck. That is the story of my life, Heikki states.
Moved to Finland, where he studied the restaurant industry
First, Heikki traveled with Tapani’s family to Central Turkey, where they asked for permission if only 12-year-old Heikki could go to Finland for a few years to study. The permission came.
Heikki moved to Mäntyharju and over the years also attended the catering school in Juva.
– I made a lot of good friends there and learned Finnish culture and customs. I can’t speak the Savo dialect anymore.
In 1992, when there was a recession in Finland, and Heikki did not manage to get a job in Finland, he moved back to Turkey to work.
– I got to work in a restaurant here in Alanya and served Finnish customers. We worked hard with our older and younger brother after opening our own restaurant.
That’s where the story as an entrepreneur began. That first restaurant had “only” 25 seats and the customers were mainly Finnish tourists.
– In a way, I was born an entrepreneur and life has taken me in the direction of the business world. After returning from the army, I continued working in our family business and later in 1996 we founded Heik’s bar.
Involved in many business activities
In addition to Heikki’s bar, Heikki currently also owns the Anna Queen hotel together with his business partner Teijo Hildenin with. In addition, Heiki has a real estate agency, through which they broker apartments and real estate in Cyprus, on the Turkish side, for European clients.
Finnishness is strongly in Heikki’s life. After all, he also has a Finnish wife Evewith whom we have been living together for more than 20 years.
The popularity of Heikki’s bar is also increased by the performance of Finnish artists in the restaurant. In September, singer Tauski performed several evenings at the restaurant. They have visited there over time as well Meiyu Suvas, Danny and Pablo. Pablo has also recorded the song The King of Alanya.
Tauski performed in Heikki’s bar in September. Heikki and Tauski have been friends for 15 years. Photo: Jari Kupiainen
– I have many acquaintances here and I act as support and security for Finns. For example, if someone gets sick, I have often been able to help them. I am also an official translator.
– I really miss the summer in Finland, but I have to be here because of work. The last time I was able to visit Finland in the summer was about eight years ago. Last winter I was in Helsinki for about a month with my daughter, right then during the severe frosts in February.
Friendly customer service
Heikki says that he is very work-oriented, life is work from start to finish. According to him, the corona period also took its toll on them. For example, real estate brokerage in Cyprus and restaurant business were in decline at that time, like almost everyone else. Now we have to take that time back and work hard.
According to Heik, the number of Finnish tourists in Alanya has leveled off and even slightly decreased. He hopes that the flow of tourists back to Alanya would change. One of the reasons, Heikki says, is that the slight decline in Finnish tourists is due to the fact that the bus journey from Antalya to Alanya takes 3 hours. Travel agencies prefer Antalya airport more. He therefore recommends taking a self-guided trip to Alanya, flying to the nearby Gazipasa airport, as you can rent hotels on your own at a reasonable price. Prices in Alanya have also risen somewhat in the last couple of years.
At the age of 48, Heikki states that he too could lighten the workload a bit. However, it doesn’t seem like it. On the contrary, Heikki even enjoyed himself as a DJ and karaoke master even when Tauski was at a gig in Heikki’s bar. The restaurateur also got excited to sing himself. To the rhythm of reggae, his karaoke performance immediately filled the dance floor. In general, the man receives so many compliments from customers that Heiki has his heart fully involved in his work. Enjoyment can be clearly seen in his work.
Heikki “King of Alanya” also filled the stage with his karaoke performance. Photo: Jari Kupiainen
– 48-year-old Turkish men consider this age to be one foot in the grave, Heikki laughs humorously.
But that’s exactly the kind of humor that is practiced in Turkey. Cheerfulness, cheerfulness and humor are the things that many people fall in love with in Turkey.
Heikki’s bar Heikki in front of his restaurant. Photo: Jari Kupiainen
Source: hymy.fi
