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 Michigan, Illinois[4], Virginia[5], North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
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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 2006 the chain was reported to have 20 sites in 5 US states.[8]
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.[4][5] 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.[8] They are described either as numerous and irresistible[8] or calorie-laden and dry.[9]