While Youssef continues with his ESL Classes (English as a Second Language) and baking in rented space at Five Herb Pizza in Cranston, work has begun at 107 Ives Street — the future home of Aleppo Sweets!
107 Ives was formally a Portuguese Social Club in the 1970’s, a dance school, and more recently an office and storage space for a local builder. What kitchen there was in the 1970’s is long gone, and a new one needs to be created. Walls are being knocked down and reconfigured for a kitchen, and cafe “front of house” and bathroom (the cafe and bathroom will be fully wheelchair accessible from the ramped side entrance).
Ultimately, after an initial ‘soft opening’, Aleppo Sweets will serve rotating varieties of Syrian Baklava, a variety of traditional Syrian Mezze items such as hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, as well as Syrian savory ‘pies’ called fatayer, stuffed grape leaves, labneh, and kabobs.
While walls are being reconfigured, kitchen and bathroom being built, we are sharing foods with our supporters to get their feedback. DELICIOUS FUN!
We are so grateful to those of you who have contributed to the Aleppo Sweets GoFundMe page to help Youssef to become fully funded. If you would like to be apart of the community of people coming alongside Youssef and his family, you can watch the video and GIVE here:
www.GoFundMe.com/help-Youssef-begin-again.
With deep gratitude,
Sandy (Victor, Youssef and Reem)
