For regular shoppers and visitors to Shuk Machane Yehuda in Yerushalayim, the change cannot be ignored. While in the past the booths were filled with fruits and vegetables, housewares and spice merchants, today the latter are making way for pubs, trendy SoHo type shops and restaurants. The shuk used to shut down at night, but of late, it begins coming to life as the fruit and vegetable merchants roll down their gates and head home. The pubs and eateries move onto the streets and trendy boutique tables and chairs adorn the walkways along with large speakers for the continuous music, at times provided by live performers instead of CDs.
One veteran of the shuk, David Dagim, has been selling fish for 27 years. David’s son Tuvia feels in order to continue competing, they have to get in touch with the times and therefore, David Dagim is now offering fresh fish via the internet. Tuvia is confident that shoppers will realize the product they receive via express delivery is no less fresh than the fish they are accustomed to bringing home from the shuk, and now they can reach clients nationwide.
Marketing professional Yaron Sagi is confident David Dagim is making a correct move, explaining “now he can compete with Shufersal” via the internet. When some veteran shuk shoppers were asked to comment, they insist buying a fish over the internet is tantamount to “buying a cat in a sack” and for them, one has to see and smell a fish before making a purchase.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
I am a chef in Jerusalem for a private upscale restaurant. When searching for a fish supplier, I went to visit David Dagim’s processing facility, which I found to be spotless. Unlike every other fish processing facility I had ever visited, there was not a trace of any odor – no smell from ammonia, bleach, or any chemical odor masks. The air was fresh and clean from the cleanliness of their facility and the freshness of the fish. The quality of the fish is consistently the best. The service is outstanding, and the fish is always top quality. While I would never ordinarily consider ordering fish online, I would, without hesitation, order from Tuvia and his father David who truly care about the quality that they give to their customers. I am glad to see that they are expanding – in my humble opinion, they deserve to succeed!