Historical brief

Everyone who has ever visited, or lived in Port Said, is familiar with the Simon Arzt store on the waterfont. The store was, in its day, one of the world’s great department stores. Here the traveller could stock up on all his (or her) needs on the way to Africa, India and the Far East. The shop assistants, clad in white suits and red tabooshes, were on hand as soon as a ship docked, ready to sell the tourist everything he or she needed: solar topees, cosmetics, tropical clothing. There was also a hairdresser’s, photograph studio, pharmacy and florist. It even had its own post office. The store never closed its doors, as long as a liner lay at anchor in the harbour at Port Said. The current Simon Arzt building on the waterfront opened in 1924. It was planned as a rectangular hall, with interior balconies in two floors. The ceiling was made of glass and provided natural light. Its street façade measures about 40 metres with a total area of 1984m2. This building is a typical example of the European styles that were common in the larger cities along the Mediterranean at this time and is one of the most impressive structures in Port Said, demonstrating its international contacts and architects who contributed to the unique blend of architectural styles in the city. It had a sister building in Naples.