Bistro Antalya owner in trouble

[mamster]

You may have already heard this, but Bulent Ertur, the owner of Bistro Antalya on Broadway and maker of the best gyro-type sandwiches I've ever had, has been in INS jail for the past couple of weeks in some sort of immigration dispute.

Seattle Weekly story

Ertur is a nice guy and a brilliant cook.  I don't know the details of his case, nor do I care (there's no intimation that it's in any way 9/11 related).  I want the guy back tending his doner kebap on Broadway, and I've long been hoping that he'll someday expand his menu and grow into an open storefront on Broadway, but keep the sandwich counter.  Without immigrants like Bulent Ertur, I would be out of a job and generally despondent.

(Full disclosure:  I'm quoted on Bistro Antalya's web site, which doesn't seem to have any information about Ertur's case.)

[papachef]

If he has to go out maybe I should put my next place there!

[Blue Heron]

Hi papachef,  how are plans coming along for your new restaurant?  Will it be like the Blue Onion Bistro?  I seem to recall you said it would serve breakfast though?  Please keep us posted.

[col klink]

Indeed!

[girl chow]

Anyone know what's going on with the Bistro Antalya owner?

[mamster]

As far as I know, his case is still in process. There's no word on whether he's being deported, coming back, or if he does come back, whether he'll have enough money to reopen the restaurant. If anyone hears anything, do jump in.

[MsRamsey]

There's a website (bistroantalya.com), but there is zero INS news on it. I have just written an email to them asking if there is an update. If I get a response, I'll post it.

Kathy

[MsRamsey]

Bulent's friend has emailed me back. She can say only that he is still being detained and the restaurant is still closed. I told her to let him know that some food-loving folks were wondering how he is doing and wish him well.

Kathy

[Schielke]

Here is a Seattle Weekly story that spells out the actual reason he was detained. They said that another story will run in May.

Clicky

[thelastsupper]

The place isn't empty. There is another little sandwich shop in there, I thought . . .?

[mamster]

Yes, it's now Mr. Gyros. I haven't tried it.

[tighe]

The place isn't empty. There is another little sandwich shop in there, I thought . . .?

I think the confusion is because the article is from May of last year. I did some poking around on the web to see if there is any recent info on Bulent, but no luck really. I just get depressed when I think of not being able to have that divine doner kebab sandwich anymore.