Charlie Sahadi, ownerAfter closing its doors to renovate and to complete an extension into an adjacent storefront, Sahadi's, everyone's favorite Middle Eastern food store on Atlantic Avenue, has reopened its doors on Sunday.
Sahadi's has been a part of Brooklyn history since 1948, when it opened its original store at number 187 Atlantic Avenue. A first expansion in the late 1980's combined the storefront next door at # 189. During this latest renovation, an empty space at #191, which was once the home of Rachid Music , and in recent years served as a Holiday Shop for Sahadi, has been added by removing dividing walls.
Besides the tremendous spice, nuts, olive, and cheese selection that we all love and have come to rely on, the new space features a larger deli counter, a bakery section with bread oven, and lots more shelf space for specialty foods.
I must admit that it was a bit disorienting to walk into the new, shiny, brighter space since the old layout was just so familiar and charming. But I am sure that after a few visits and once the store is fully restocked, it will get some of its old feel back.
I stopped to say hi to Charlie Sahadi, the owner, on my way out and congratulated him on the expansion. "It's all my daughter's work. You should speak to her. She is the new generation," he told me. But he is not ready to retire. "What would I do with myself? I love working here." And then with a big smile, he added "uBesides, then I wouldn't be able to see my customers any more."
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