New local businesses and non-profit organizations open regularly in Saskatoon. Today, we talk to Assaf Al Hamade, who opened Al Rabih Brothers Market in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood in July.
Al Hamade immigrated to Saskatoon from Syria three years ago. He worked in the stone masonry business in Syria and started working at Saskatoon Paving Stone Company soon after his arrival in Canada. He quickly worked his way to a supervisor position due to his skill and experience. He still works at Saskatoon Paving Stone, but has reduced his hours lately in order to develop his own new enterprise, and serve previously unmet needs within his community.
English is Al Hamade’s second language and he was joined in the interview by Sheri Stark who — together with her husband, Jay — has been a mentor for Al Hamade and his family through the Open Door Society. The two families have become very close. Stark helped translate and provided additional comments.
Q: What is Al Rabih Brothers Market?
Assaf Al Hamade: It’s a Middle Eastern grocery — the same as what is in my country. Mostly like (those grocers in) Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Iran. Most people use the same stuff there, we have it here. We also have nuts, vegetables and candy and there’s lots of baklava and different kinds of sweets — it’s very very fresh. We try to be always fresh every week, every couple days. Many kinds of things, we have it here and we try to have more and more.
Sheri Stark: Their store has everything from specialty clothing for Middle Eastern wear to kitchen items to personal hygiene items to lots of specialty foods. And the one thing that I always keep going back for, and our friends do as well, is roasted mixed nuts. He also has fresh produce and lots of herbs that are unique to their culture. But also similar to our culture as well.
Something that Assaf does that is quite an undertaking is every week (is) he drives to Calgary, Edmonton and Medicine Hat and he gets fresh produce and fresh bread. So that comes into his store every week fresh. He goes there special to get these items that aren’t necessarily available in Saskatoon already. He brings a lot of stuff in from Turkey, Mississauga, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Medicine Hat.
Q: What inspired Al Hamade to start his store?
SS: He was telling me an interesting story, that when refugees come, the government provides them with an allowance and you can stay on that for one year. By August (within four months) of that first year that he came, Assaf had a full-time job because he wanted to be independent and get off the government money and be a good example to his family and his community to show them that you can be self-sufficient.
More recently he’s been thinking that he wants to start a store and be able to provide these specialty items to his community and show them that this can be done. And he says that community members will come in and they’re very happy to see that he has the store. And some of them have gone out and started their own businesses.
Q: What do you love most about owning Al Rabih Brothers Market?
AAH: Leading for other families — to show other families we have a business, and you can do the same as we did. We started at zero. Now we have grocery store. This is for Saskatoon, for all people, not just for our community.
SS: He’s doing a lot of this for his Syrian community to help them enjoy their life here in Canada, and then also to expose Canadians to some of these things that they eat in Syria.
Al Rabih Brothers Market
Owner:
Assaf Al Hamade
Address:
727-A 22nd Street West
Hours:
Monday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Phone:
306-382-8949
Email:
assafalhamade@gmail.com|
Website:
www.alrabihmarket.com (Under construction)
Check:
Facebook
Have you recently started or moved a new business or non-profit organization in Saskatoon? We want to hear your story. Please email citydesk@thestarphoenix.com.