Bittersweet ending for Butt Sweets Shop

ABU DHABI: A local staple is all set to shut down early next month.

Butt Sweets Shop, which has been tantalising the taste buds of Abu Dhabi residents with traditional Pakistani sweets and snacks for the past 44 years, will serve its last order in July.

Pakistani expat Afzal Butt, who runs the Electra Street shop, originally founded by his brother Azam in 1974, said the family has decided to wind up the business and return to their home country.

Great run

“We had a great run in Abu Dhabi but all good things come to an end. We will always remain thankful to the countless patrons who visited our shop all these years,” said Afzal.

“Some of our loyal customers are calling us almost daily, urging us to change our mind. We appreciate their concern, but I think it’s time for us to move on,” he added. A notice outside the shop says it’s up for sale. “We don’t know what will come up here but it certainly won’t be Butt Sweets Shop as we have plans to sell the franchise,” said Afzal.

Traditional flavour

Famous for its jalebi (maida flour rings soaked in sugar syrup and deep-fried), gulab jamun (deep-fried curdled milk sweet) and samosas (triangular pastry fried in ghee), the shop is a landmark of sorts in the Capital and even has a mention in Lonely Planet, regarded as the largest travel guide book publisher in the world.

News of the shop’s imminent closure has evoked shock and a sense of loss among sweets lovers in the capital.

Will be missed

“It’s hard to believe that it’s shutting down. We will miss it sorely. Nobody makes samosas and jalebis like them,” said Pakistani expat Mohsin Khan, who lives on Electra Street.

British expat Sally Jonas said she first sampled their sweet offerings when she relocated to Abu Dhabi around 10 years ago.

“It was an acquired taste but I got hooked on them. So much so that I would often drive down to the shop from my place in Al Reem to enjoy their delicacies,” she said.