omer efandi
COMPANY PROFILE
WHO WE ARE? has had it's ups and downs, its highs and lows and in a country where history is rich, it has stood the test of time, resurrecting itself time and time again, becoming a beacon, symbol and icon of modern Egypt.
Founded in 1856, Omar Effendi was first christened Orosdi Bak, over the past century Omar Effendi has molded itself to match the needs of the Egyptian public, becoming more then icon in the country, becoming the primary brand for inexpensive quality goods. The first flagship store, which still stands today, on Abdel-Aziz Street, was originally built to cater to well-heeled foreign and Egyptian customers. Since then the company has gone through various transformations opening up over 60 branches throughout the start of the 1900's. Adolf Orosdi was a Hungarian army officer, who had found refuge in the Ottoman Empire, opened a first clothing store in Galata in 1855. With the Back family, of Austrian-Hungarian descent, Orosdi and his sons began establishing similar stores elsewhere, including Baghdad, Istanbul and Beirut.
Some older Egyptians may still remember Orosdi-Back, that famous turn-of-the-century department store which early on added the Turkish-derived "Omar Effendi" to its name. The six-story rococo department store designed in 1905-6 by Raoul Brandon (1878-1941) stands at the corner of Abdelaziz and Rushdi Pasha Streets, a powerful architectural testimonial to Cairo till today.
Orsodi Bak became Omar Effendi in 1920 when it was sold to new owners, it was then nationalized in 1957, with over 69 branches up and running and one of the first brand to exist in Egypt and the Middle East. This was the first major retail entity to exist in the region.
Since nationalization the department store has weathered major changes, fluctuating between an iconic and deteriorated status. Throughout the 20th century, the sixty-some stores became centers for inexpensive goods with quality. The stores lost some of their
WHO WE ARE? has had it's ups and downs, its highs and lows and in a country where history is rich, it has stood the test of time, resurrecting itself time and time again, becoming a beacon, symbol and icon of modern Egypt.
Founded in 1856, Omar Effendi was first christened Orosdi Bak, over the past century Omar Effendi has molded itself to match the needs of the Egyptian public, becoming more then icon in the country, becoming the primary brand for inexpensive quality goods. The first flagship store, which still stands today, on Abdel-Aziz Street, was originally built to cater to well-heeled foreign and Egyptian customers. Since then the company has gone through various transformations opening up over 60 branches throughout the start of the 1900's. Adolf Orosdi was a Hungarian army officer, who had found refuge in the Ottoman Empire, opened a first clothing store in Galata in 1855. With the Back family, of Austrian-Hungarian descent, Orosdi and his sons began establishing similar stores elsewhere, including Baghdad, Istanbul and Beirut.
Some older Egyptians may still remember Orosdi-Back, that famous turn-of-the-century department store which early on added the Turkish-derived "Omar Effendi" to its name. The six-story rococo department store designed in 1905-6 by Raoul Brandon (1878-1941) stands at the corner of Abdelaziz and Rushdi Pasha Streets, a powerful architectural testimonial to Cairo till today.
Orsodi Bak became Omar Effendi in 1920 when it was sold to new owners, it was then nationalized in 1957, with over 69 branches up and running and one of the first brand to exist in Egypt and the Middle East. This was the first major retail entity to exist in the region.
Since nationalization the department store has weathered major changes, fluctuating between an iconic and deteriorated status. Throughout the 20th century, the sixty-some stores became centers for inexpensive goods with quality. The stores lost some of their