Kareem Jibrin said the same vision motivated his father Sammy to begin developing Al Ameera Plaza<\/a> a few years later.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would go to all these Arab cities in other states\u2014like for instance, if you go to New Jersey, all the Arabs are in Patterson,\u201d Jibrin said. \u201cWe wanted people to come to Dallas and say, \u2018We have to go to Richardson.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n “><\/p>\n The background<\/p>\n Within the last several years, The Arabian Village and Al Ameera Plaza have welcomed international businesses opening their first American location as well as businesses already established in Texas or Richardson. Shawish also said he brought Texas\u2019 first Yemeni coffee shop<\/a> to The Arabian Village.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted things that were different, things that people would drive [for],\u201d Jibrin said.<\/p>\n Jibrin said a woman flew in from California for the opening of Jordanian restaurant Khashoka Middle Eastern Cuisine<\/a>, while Shawish said he meets customers who drive in from Oklahoma.<\/p>\n Dania Allan, the listing agent for the planned Habibi Market Plaza, said that although the new development isn\u2019t seeking specifically Middle Eastern businesses, many have flocked to the center due to the nearby developments and neighboring Sara\u2019s Market and Bakery, a 30-year Richardson staple.<\/p>\n \u201c[The development] builds on the idea that we\u2019re a foodie city, and that one step beyond that, we\u2019re an international foodie city,\u201d City Manager Don Magner said.<\/p>\n Zooming in<\/p>\n Emad Saif said his new restaurant in The Arabian Village, Salam Juice & Mutbaq<\/a>, is the first place many Arab customers can try mutabbaq, a Yemeni crispy stuffed flatbread, outside of the Middle East.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is like a memory for them,\u201d Saif said.<\/p>\n Ammar Alashwal said the same is true for his Yemandi Yemeni Cuisine<\/a>, also in The Arabian Village.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Arab community feels represented,\u201d Alashwal said, when they are able to eat food at his restaurant that they haven\u2019t been able to find in Dallas before. In addition to the Arab residents, Alashwal said that it was all of Richardson\u2019s diverse and international communities that made the city the right place for his restaurant.<\/p>\n \u201cAt first there was a lot of curiosity from people who didn\u2019t even know about Yemeni food,\u201d Alashwal said. \u201cOnce they tried it, the curiosity turned into excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n While Saif, who also operates businesses in North Carolina, said the shopping center growth makes it easier for business owners to find a place to open in Richardson, he said he is also concerned about the growth in competition if too many similar restaurants open nearby.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo locations, no problem, but if everybody around the area opens the same [thing], it\u2019s going to be difficult,\u201d Saif said.<\/p>\n Put in perspective<\/p>\n Dallas and Collin counties are home to some of Texas\u2019 largest Arab American populations, but Shawish and Jibrin said it is also Richardson\u2019s growing diversity across the board, with the city\u2019s mix of cultures and international dining and retail options, that fuels the success of their businesses.<\/p>\n Mayor Amir Omar said that diversity in the business community is one of Richardson\u2019s \u201cgreatest strengths as a city.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about creating spaces where businesses can thrive together, not just individually,\u201d Omar said.<\/p>\n Magner said that the impact of individual businesses on city sales tax revenue is relatively minor. Sales tax is a primary funding source for public safety, the library, parks and recreation, animal services and other city programs, per the city website.<\/p>\n Magner added that the city sees a larger benefit when businesses come together to \u201ccreate a place,\u201d similar to DFW Chinatown<\/a> near downtown Richardson.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s when they begin to cluster that people start to come from all over to experience it,\u201d Magner said. \u201cThey create something bigger together.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead<\/p>\n Since he started development in The Arabian Village, Shawish said he has seen rents for retail spaces in the area jump significantly, outpacing increases he sees in other cities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did make this area special,\u201d Shawish said.<\/p>\n Shawish said he is planning the second phase of his project, developing nine buildings along Business Parkway and Spring Valley Road. Jibrin said more business openings are also lined up in Al Ameera Plaza, and the first restaurant in Habibi Market Plaza will open this spring.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great that [Al Ameera Plaza] is starting to grow, but we want people to focus on the vision and what we were able to do in a span of two years,\u201d Jibrin said. \u201cImagine what all of us could do together in the next three to four [years].\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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