Entertainment, tourism replace other activities in Athens street

Dragatsaniou Street, located in the heart of Athens’ commercial triangle, was known as the capital’s main hub for those shopping for electrical goods.

However, during Greece’s debt crisis, the old businesses closed and the street became deserted. Gradually, the void was filled with cafes and bars that have altered the character of the neighborhood.

Today, within a radius of a few dozen meters, six new restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, and bars are spread out, all of which have opened in the last six months.

Is this a positive development? Kathimerini asked Yannis Aesopos, professor of architecture and urban planning at the University of Patras. “It undoubtedly revitalizes the area, but it leads to the further homogenization of the city, eliminating the differences between its parts,” he responds.

“Can the spread of the food service industry be avoided? It seems not. It corresponds to the spread of Airbnb: The empty shells are filled with new uses, for residents and tourists alike. But, at the same time, the abandoned building stock is being repaired, upgraded, maintained – let’s not forget that.”