Turkish street vendor becomes social media phenomenon

Alper Temell, a 25-year-old street vendor, has gained significant internet popularity in Istanbul. Operating in the Karakoy district near the Bosphorus for eight years, he sells roasted chestnuts, corn, and simit alongside his brother. Originally from the Dogubayazit district in Agri province, Temell currently manages over 720,000 Instagram followers and 515,000 TikTok followers. His sudden rise to fame occurred after influencer Karolina Geits posted a TikTok video of herself purchasing corn and posing for a photo with him. This content accumulated millions of views, resulting in large crowds visiting his street stand. The increased attention has transformed his routine business location into a notable destination for both tourists and city residents.