Aladdin's Eatery
Encyclopedia
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
restaurants in the American Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and South-East, specializing in Lebanese cuisine
Lebanese cuisine
Lebanese cuisine includes an abundance of starches, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood; animal fats are consumed sparingly. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten it is usually lamb on the coast and goat meat in the mountain regions...
. Adapted to American tastes, the sites are fast casual restaurant
Fast casual restaurant
A fast casual restaurant is a type of restaurant that does not offer full table service, but promises a higher quality of food and atmosphere than a fast food restaurant. In the US, it is a relatively new and growing concept positioned between fast food and casual dining...
s that also offer take out
Take Out
Take Out is a 2007 short film written by Screenwriter and Producer Bill Hall, with Jonathan Budine as the Director, Producer and Editor. The short introduces Mary Ann Emerson, appearing in her first lead role, and includes veteran New York City actor Alexis Suarez. Scream Queen Debbie Rochon...
.
The firm, Aladdin's Eatery Systems, Inc, is headquartered in Lakewood
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
As well as Ohio,
the company also has locations in Michigan,
Illinois,
Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
History
Aladdin's Eatery was founded by Fady and Sally Chamoun in 1994. Since then it has become an extremely lucrative chain of restaurants. Fady Chamoun had arrived in the US from LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1972 and worked at Little Caesars
Little Caesars
Little Caesars is a pizza chain, estimated to be the 4th largest in the United States. The Little Caesars headquarters is located in the Fox Theatre building in Downtown Detroit, Michigan.-History:...
full time whilst studying at the University of Michigan. 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.
By 2004 the chain had 17 outlets and Chamoun won the Northeast Ohio Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
Retail Entrepreneur Of The Year award. 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.
In 2006 the chain was reported to have 20 sites in 5 US states.
Reception
With a concept of "providing good food with a slightly exotic flavour and cheap prices" the chain is noted by reviewers for its assortment of soups, smoothies and juices. Desserts such as traditional Lebanese baklavaBaklava
Baklava is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. It is characteristic of the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and much of central and southwest Asia....
or pistachio cookies compete with more American gourmet cheesecakes and layer cakes, are all supplied from the Jasmine Bakery. They are described either as numerous and irresistible or calorie-laden and dry.