A raffle for free coffee and concert tickets to see artist Saint Levant drew customers to Habibi’s one-year anniversary celebration Saturday, drawing customers together at the Fullerton coffee shop for free chai, merchandise, live music and prizes.
The celebration brought together employees, longtime customers and first-time visitors while highlighting the relationships that helped shape the business. For cafe owner Saad Shariff, reaching this milestone was a reflection of the support Habibi’s has received from its community.
“We worked extremely hard to get here, and we wouldn’t be here without the help of our patrons, without the support of the city of Fullerton, the college, of course, and just everyone that’s been supporting us since day one,” Shariff said.
Shariff and his partners founded Habibi’s to introduce the area to Levant-inspired cafes, hoping to create a space centered around hospitality and Middle Eastern culture. The shop also gives back to the community by donating 10% of proceeds from certain fundraisers back to campus organizations.
Running the business has also come with challenges, particularly rising food costs. Shariff said suppliers have increased their prices, forcing businesses to decide whether to raise their own prices or absorb the costs. Despite this, Habibi’s has worked to keep its prices consistent while maintaining the quality of its food.
For employees, Habibi’s offers an opportunity to introduce customers to a culture they may not otherwise encounter. Hanzeh Qannous, a worker at Habibi’s, said customers often ask about the origins and design of the cafe.
“It just kind of opens people’s eyes more to outside cultures that are from across the world, say, Middle Eastern cultures,” Qannous said. “There’s olive trees, people ask what the olive oil is for, it’s kind of what the Middle East is known for, everyone likes olive oil.”
The cafe and sandwich shop’s welcoming atmosphere has also attracted regular customers. Heather Kayali, a frequent Habibi’s customer, said her daughter enjoys coming to the cafe because of the friendly service.
“They always make sure to approach and address everybody that walks in. They’re so friendly, and I think that makes the business better,” Kayali said.
The anniversary celebration also brought in first-time visitors. Sophia Miller attended after she was invited by a friend and was immediately drawn to the cafe’s appearance and menu.
“The staff were really kind and friendly. I was happy to see so many people come support a local business,” Miller said. “I loved the aesthetic of the cafe and they have a lot of drink options.”
The celebration quickly filled the cafe. A line stretched halfway through the parking lot when the doors opened at 10 a.m, while patrons gathered on the patio beneath the canopy to enjoy live music. Inside, visitors drank chai, enjoyed the air conditioning and greeted the cafe’s owners.
For Shariff, one of the most notable signs of Habibi’s growth has been its relationship with Cal State Fullerton students.
“One of the coolest things to see is actual students come here every day or every other day,” Shariff said. “That’s the biggest compliment for a business.”
Looking ahead, Shariff hopes to bring Habibi’s directly onto the CSUF campus. The business is now an approved campus vendor and hopes to eventually become a permanent brick-and-mortar location at the university.
For now, the anniversary celebration gave customers and employees an opportunity to recognize the cafe’s growth and the community behind it.
“Don’t be shy, give us a try,” Sharif said. “You’ll fall in love at first sight.”