Historical Armenian Brothers' House Transformed into Restaurant in Turkey

A 150-year-old Armenian mansion in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey (historically known as Marash) has been converted into a restaurant. This was reported by Ermenihaber.

The building's basement was constructed in 1870 by two Armenian doctor brothers and served as their workplace until 1905. After 1905, the first and second floors were added, and the mansion remained in use until the Armenian Genocide in 1915. In 1919, Turkish authorities put the mansion up for sale, and it was bought by the Turkish Zabun family.

From 1915 to 1959, the building was transformed into a post office, and after 1959, the basement was operated as a surgical ward and a jewelry workshop. The other floors continued to serve as a residence until the 2000s.

To renovate and utilize this abandoned Armenian property for tourism purposes, the Zabun family transferred the building to the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the 2000s. It is noted that the reconstruction efforts, which began in 2011, were completed in 2013, aligning with the time period's aesthetic and architectural style.

In Turkey, the building is known as "Zabun Konağı" (Zabun Mansion) and consists of 7 rooms. The mansion is currently operated as a restaurant by young Turkish entrepreneur Ahmet Yuvayapani. In an interview with Turkish media, he stated that the restaurant offers traditional dishes characteristic of the region, as well as the famous ice cream from Marash, made from goat milk.