Aladdin's Eatery

Aladdin's Eatery
Restaurant information
Established 1994 (1994)
Current owner(s) Fady and Sally Chamoun
Food type Lebanese cuisine
City Started in Lakewood, OH
Other locations Throughout the American Midwest and South-East
Website www.aladdinseatery.com
Baklava, a typical Middle Eastern cake served at Aladdin's Eatery

Aladdin's Eatery is a chain of franchised restaurants in the American Midwest and South-East, specializing in Lebanese cuisine. Adapted to American tastes, the sites are fast casual restaurants that also offer take out.[1]

The firm, Aladdin's Eatery Systems, Inc, is headquartered in Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.[1][2] As well as Ohio,[3] the company also has locations in Indiana,[4] Virginia,[5] North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

History

Aladdin's Eatery was founded by Fady and Sally Chamoun in 1994. Since then it has become an extremely lucrative chain of restaurants.[6] Fady Chamoun had arrived in the US from Lebanon in 1972 and worked at Little Caesars full-time whilst studying at the University of Michigan.[1] Over the next twenty years he rose within Little Caesars, eventually running 40 franchises, which he sold, leaving him with $10,000 after repaying his debts, which he used to help fund a site in Lakewood, OH.[1]

By 2004 the chain had 17 outlets and Chamoun won the Northeast Ohio Ernst & Young Retail Entrepreneur Of The Year award.[7] Chamoun had established Jasmine's Bakery in Cleveland in 1997 to supply all his restaurants and by 2004 it was employing 40 people and making sales of $2 million.[1]

In 2013 the chain was reported to have 30 sites in 5 US states.[8]

Reception

With a concept of "providing good food with a slightly exotic flavour and cheap prices"[3] the chain is noted by reviewers for its assortment of soups, smoothies and juices, and options for vegetarians and meat lovers.[5][9] Desserts such as traditional Lebanese baklava or pistachio cookies compete with more American gourmet cheesecakes and layer cakes, are all supplied from the Jasmine Bakery.[10] They are described either as numerous and irresistible[10] or calorie-laden and dry.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Palmer, Kim; Garofalo, Deborah (2004-06-01). "Living the American Dream". Smart Business. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  2. ↑ Selekman, Aviva (2001-05-01). "Pittsburgh Neighborhood's Vacant Storefronts Fail to Faze Business Owners". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  3. 1 2 "MAGIC FOOD -- BUT NO LAMP". Akron Beacon Journal. 1998-12-03. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  4. ↑ Stowe, Gene (13 December 2011). "Aladdin's Eatery offers healthy food options". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 Marchetti, Domenica (2001-12-20). "Aladdin's Eatery Offers a Healthy Dose of Middle Eastern Cuisine". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  6. ↑ "Aladdin's Eatery: About Us". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  7. ↑ "TrekDS - E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Awards". 2004. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  8. ↑ Hayes, Liz (September 11, 2003). "Enjoy tastes from the East at restaurant in the Alle-Kiski Valley". tribLIVE.com. Trib Total Media, Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Aladdin's Eatery Village". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  10. 1 2 Olsen, Eric (2006-07-26). "Middle East feast". Toledo City Paper. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  11. ↑ Merriman, Woodene (2002-01-18). "Granting Wishes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2009-05-18.

External links

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