Pest-Buda was followed by Spíler exactly 10 years ago.
But this story also began earlier than 2012...
Roy was studying and working in the USA in 2006, when he came across an article about the renovation of the historic Gozsdu Courtyard in downtown Pest and the creation of an entertainment district.
As Roy was abroad, he sent Ilona to see the site. Ilona looked at a property, but the renovation took so long that the Viper, the 21 and the Pest-Buda opening came along, and the focus shifted from Pest to Buda...
However over the years, the city centre boomed much, and the owner of Szimpla Kert, Ábel, told Roy so much about life in Pest, that it was time to move on and open in Gozsdu, where the property had been for years. The only question was what to do there?
Roy had been going out a lot in the area, but the Ilonas were not familiar with this side of town, so they went to explore. This is how she remembers it. "After we got out of the taxi at Madách Square, Zoltán (because to this day he calls Roy by his first name) handed us the list of places to visit. Around 9pm, Péter and I set off and like two teenagers, we were amused by the surroundings and the atmosphere. Later we talked to my son and I realised that there was nothing else left, we had to make a ruin pub here, something that didn't exist yet.
He suggested we go out to New York and have a look around."
And so they did.
There was already a layer of party-goers who were just beyond the point of wanting to drink the cheapest wine in the place for a spritzer or their usual beer with onion and bread and butter.
This demand was matched by a very cool design, just like in New York or Berlin, and the quality gastronomy that guests could expect from the Zsidai Group. Roy's wanted to create a likeable place where you could just pop down for dinner or a drink on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.
The Spíler opened in September 2012, with washing glasses 10 minutes before the opening party. The place was an instant hit, quickly becoming a favourite among locals and foreign tourists. People were happy because Spíler brought life to the city centre and it was a place that needed life in 2012, it needed something new and that was Spíler.
Roy always tells me that his favourite experience at Spíler is when he stops on the corner under the Spíler sign outside and just watches and listens to the beat - and sees how much the guests enjoy the whole Spíler experience.
Open for 10 years, the Spíler's shine hasn't dimmed, it's getting brighter.
Keep shining, dear Spíler! Happy birthday, Spíler Béla!