Crowds of visitors are flocking to the former rebel stronghold in northwest Syria to enjoy a shopping spree in the newly opened shopping malls and stores. The area, near Sarmada in Idlib province, was cut off from the rest of the country until the fall of President Bashar al-Assad less than a week ago. The region's prosperity dates back to the outbreak of the war in 2011 and the rupture between Damascus and Ankara, when Assad stopped the importation of goods from Turkey. Local businessmen benefited from an influx of displaced people and a flourishing commercial hub was born. Syrians from other parts of the country are surprised by the abundance of goods and the lower prices in the rebel-held area.