Transcription
[Music] [Music] May God bless you. What was the first fast-food restaurant in Bahrain? Only [Music] The first, in 1971, the restaurant's agent in Bahrain was Mr. Khalifa. [Music] As you can see, we are in Manama, and behind me is the Al Zamil building, the gateway to Manama. To my left is Sahab Travel Agency, the agent for Salam Air. The place that hosted the first fast-food restaurant, the Wimpi restaurant, in the early seventies, specifically in 1971. We are here today to document the place and also to document the information we will present to you through our guest whom we are hosting about the first fast-food restaurant in Bahrain. People could sit inside the restaurant and enjoy the food. There were also external orders, which we call today takeaway or delivery. This restaurant was always crowded with customers throughout the week, especially during holidays and occasions, and from all the social classes you can imagine, because it was something different from the existing and limited restaurants, whether purely popular or classic. As for the restaurant's meals, the meals were mainly limited to beef burgers with eggs or cheese, and what distinguished it, of course, was the banana ice cream or milkshake. Imagine, in the seventies, there was a restaurant in Bahrain that made milkshakes. The restaurant workers were, of course, from the Egyptian community, in addition to Mohammed Obaid from Bahrain. We were able to reach Abu Obaid to confirm the accuracy of our information. [Music] We are currently at Sahab Travel offices, the agent for Salam Air. We are not here to travel, but because the place where we are currently was hosting the first fast-food restaurant, the Wimpi restaurant, in the early seventies in Bahrain, specifically in 1971. We are standing with two guests, through whom we are trying to document the information we are presenting to you through the episode about the restaurant. I have with me Mr. Mohammed Al-Kanjouni Dahi from the Bahrain Historical and Archaeological Society. Welcome. You are one of the patrons of the restaurant, and you certainly have many memories associated with this restaurant. Okay, and after that, of course, because it was a meeting point for students, whether inside Bahrain or even for the Gulf. Today, we are documenting the information we are presenting to you through the program with one of the restaurant workers, Mohammed Obaid. I heard that you serve milkshakes. Imagine, in the seventies, we had milkshakes. Correct. What was the difference? [Music] Even the burger was different. [Music] 600 fils, back then. Added to the beautiful memories of the golden era. There were customers, there was a response, meaning the ages of the customers, or the people who frequented the restaurant. It was a different restaurant. After the restaurant closed, did you feel a void? No, no. Because it was the first restaurant, it has special memories, unlike other restaurants that came later. At the end of the eighties of the last century, the Wimpi restaurant closed its doors permanently, and the success story of the restaurant that brought joy and happiness to the people of Bahrain and its residents ended. It was a pioneering step in the history of the restaurant sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This openness and acceptance, both from the Bahraini government and its vision, as well as the openness and acceptance of the Bahraini citizen to new and modern things, and the changing times, created a suitable environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting dozens of restaurants specializing in fast food. And not only that, but there are, and this is important, Bahraini entrepreneurs who manage their specialized fast-food restaurants themselves and achieve great success that has reached the Gulf countries. This is not strange for the sons of Bahrain, and it makes us feel proud and honored. We say, long live Bahrain. [Music]