Hi Pennywhitle,
Thanks for to Hope Street sign 
I've often wondered if many people took advantage of the re-development of Sandy Row and took the actual street name plates as a momento ?
The Indian restaurant that you refer to was was formly know locally as the "stew house" and it was a very popular place with lorry drivers from the Ulster Transport depot on the Grosvenor Road.
The Indian restaurant didn't last long, in fact the guy who owned it used to say "the people of Sandy Row are like magpies because they take all of my knives & forks" 
But there was a sinister side to this guy because he ended up going to jail and I think he was maybe deported for running what was known then as RACHMANISM, in otherwords he was exploting poor people by overcharging them high rents in properties that he owned , I think he had properties in Donegal Pass.
It was proven in court that he was using very heavy handed tactics, threating his tennants with violence from his heavies.
You're not kiddin'!!
I have full recall of the aforementioned "gentleman" from The "Sub-Continent"!
I was too afraid to mention the element that you introduced.But yes,you are right on the money!
The person you referred to was mentioned in the "Belfast Tele" as I well remember,for failing to appear in court and a "Bench Warrant" was issued for his arrest,due to his failure to appear in Court ,following summonses for using threatening behaviour, towards his "Tenants". His last known address was off the Moss Road ,Lambeg. ( I'm starting to feel like "Old Moore's Almanac" here)!!
As you rightly pointed out,he bought furniture in the local auctions and soon moved in as the old "Sandy Rowites" began to quit the wee streets and employed the local "Heavies" to collect the rent which was way , way, beyond what was affordable or indeed ,just.
In one escapade,it was "alleged" a firearm was produced,which lead to his (non-appearance) before the( "Beak") and I must stress,this was long before "The Troubles". Sadly,The "Row" wasn't short of "hard chaw's" and many were soon to find their element come the "Summer of '68" and beyond.
The rest,as they say, is HISTORY!!
As a footnote,I well mention one of my Da's sisters,my aunt Millie,from Clementine Street.She lost her husband,"Davy Bradshaw" but later married a "Davy Shanks". Between the two marriages and like many a widow,she earned her keep
doing what had to be done and "skivvied" were the work was to be found.
Fair play to her.
She got such a job in the aforementioned "eatin' house" and lost the wee number after the owner legged it.
The premises remained closed after the owner absconded and following complaints of a "quare whiff" from the premises,workers from the Sanitary Dept.,from the City Hall,forced an entry into the building.My aunt Millie confirmed that the back yard was full of empty "Master McGrath" tins.And No!, she didn't get her "lying week"!!!!!
"How much is that doggie in the window,,WOOf WOOF".
In all fairness,I have happily had a good feed in the "Ashoka",the big "Indian" Restaurant that is (or was ) facing the premises that once was "The Majestic" cinema on the Lisburn Road!
In closing,my aunt Millie,kept a "bantie [censored]" in her "coal hole" and I was slack-jawed" as a wee lad, when this wee rooster strutted about the floor.
I hope and pray that the "big boul" of lovely broth that I was once served,was not all the tastier for "SCROGER" ,as she "Christened him" being in that lovely mix.!
