The profession of repairing gas stoves and ovens has revived once more, due to the severe economic crisis that Lebanese people have been struggling under for more than three years. This crisis has imposed a new way of life and forced many to adapt to the harsh reality, contributing to the flourishing of certain trades that were on the brink of extinction due to technology, advancements, and the invention of modern alternatives.
In the "Al-Shari" neighborhood, one of the old districts of Sidon, where the markets gather with their specializations and small shops vary, master and former mukhtar Fouad Al-Bani (75 years old) is committed to keeping the profession of gas oven repair alive. He has never neglected this job, even when he was elected mukhtar of the neighborhood in the last round, believing that both roles serve the community.
Al-Bani tells "Nidaa Al-Watan" that he has not stopped repairing gas cooking stoves of all types, even while serving as mukhtar. However, he did not expect the profession to thrive again amidst the suffocating economic crisis. He adds: "People come to me to repair their gas stoves, both small and large, and especially ovens, since they can no longer afford to buy new replacements. They opt for the cheapest option, and we consider their financial circumstances."
In a small shop not exceeding 2m² filled with old utensils and gas stoves, Master Al-Bani, dressed in blue work attire and wearing his hat, organizes his tools on designated shelves before fixing a small gas stove and lighting it to confirm its revival after a malfunction a few days ago that rendered it inoperable. He states, "For over 50 years, I have been practicing this profession. Now, it has become scarce or rare, unlike before when everything worked on gas. Today, the situation has changed, and electricity has replaced it, but due to skyrocketing prices and the long crisis, people have returned to repairing their items instead of buying expensive new ones that now cost in US dollars. Here, costs are cheaper, and payments are made in Lebanese pounds."
He adds, "I perform maintenance and repair work on gas stoves, ovens, heaters, and meat grills, everything that operates on gas from A to Z, and we have become well-known throughout Sidon because there are only two of us in this profession: myself and Master Hanina. We learned it thoroughly and mastered it, and we are still doing it today. It is a rare profession; it may decline but it will not die."
He acknowledges that the profession alone is no longer sufficient for a living given the high prices, but he works extra to secure his daily bread. He mentions, "Sometimes, I repair gas ovens at homes instead of carrying them to the shop, especially for clients from outside Sidon, and I have contracts with institutions (that offer buyers a warranty) to maintain or repair ovens when any malfunction occurs. These two services compensate for the stagnation here."
Despite his advancing age, he refuses to leave his work or close his shop. He says, "I willingly gave up the mukhtar role for this profession. My son Osama is now the mukhtar of the neighborhood, and I am happy with my choice because being in this neighborhood and especially on this street means so much to me; it represents life in all its sweetness and bitterness and unforgettable memories."
