Șari-Neni building in 2020

Șari-Neni[lower-alpha 1] was a famous brothel in the Elisabetin district of Timișoara, Romania, during the interwar period.[1] It was located at the intersection of the current Romulus and Alexandru Odobescu streets.

History

Prostitution was legal at the beginning of the 1900s, and several luxury brothels and so-called houses of tolerance were operating legally in Timișoara. The latter were located in marginal neighborhoods, for those with lower incomes.[1]

The brothel, which had a red lantern by the entrance,[1] was run by a fierce lady called Charlotta Földessy (1885–1962).[2][lower-alpha 2] It had the outward appearance of a chic and intimate restaurant which served fine food. The clients were treated well and the service was impeccable. The clients were able to choose a companion from albums of professional photographs. The employees could play the piano and were well-versed in the art of conversation.[1] Many of the clientele were regular visitors.[4]

After World War II, prostitution was outlawed by the communist regime[5] and the brothel closed. The building was used as a buffet. Soon after the Romanian Revolution, the building re-opened as a restaurant with live music called Intim.[4] In the 2000s the restaurant closed and the building fell into disrepair. Unable to sell the property, the owners tried to sell the property to the local council on several occasions between 2014 and 2019.[4][6][7][8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Sári néni ("Aunt Sári") is a Hungarian hypocorism for Charlotta Földessy, the owner of the brothel in the interwar period.
  2. ↑ Other sources give the surname as Mohács.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Both, Ștefan (23 April 2013). "Bordelul "Șari-Neni" oferea servicii impecabile pentru doritorii de amor". Adevărul.
  2. ↑ Iszlai, Erika (30 January 2022). "Șari-Neni, cel mai cunoscut bordel timișorean din perioada interbelică". TION.
  3. ↑ Buruleanu, Dan Nicolae; Medeleț, Florin (2015). Timișoara: povestea orașelor sale (3rd ed.). Timișoara: Solness. ISBN 9789737294296.
  4. 1 2 3 "Au săltat prețul și speră ca acum să fie cu noroc. Faimosul bordel din Timișoara de altădată, oferit iarăși de proprietari primăriei spre cumpărare". Opinia Timișoarei. 12 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Bordelurile și fetițele dulci din Bucureștiul de altădată". Historia.
  6. ↑ Galescu, Otilia (16 September 2016). "Alba-neagra cu… Șari-Neni! Primăria s-a răzgândit și nu mai vrea să cumpere fostul bordel". deBanat.ro.
  7. ↑ Piticariu, Bogdan (27 February 2017). "Fostul bordel interbelic Șari-Neni, cumpărat prin preemțiune de Primărie". Timpolis.
  8. ↑ Mîț, Adriana (12 February 2019). "Fostul bordel Șari-Neni din Timișoara, scos la vânzare. Primăria nu vrea să-l cumpere". pressalert.ro.
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