May 2, 2011 By Christian Murray
The days of El Shater, the family-run Lebanese store on the corner of 43rd Street and 43rd Ave., may not be completely over.
Mehdi Osman, one of the brothers who ran El Shater, has decided to stay at the Sunnyside location and establish a new Lebanese store/restaurant by the name of Habibi, which is Arabic for “my friend”.
The remainder of his family will move El Shater to Astoria. That store officially closed at the end of April.
Osman said he will be renovating the new store/restaurant, both inside and out. This includes a new awning and paint job—with plans to introduce outdoor seating.
He said he will provide a juice bar and coffee bar. The store/restaurant will provide, among other items, chicken and beef shawarma, falafel rolls and hummus that will be cooked by Osman’s wife, an experienced chef. “Everything will be fresh and made here” Osman said.
Osman aims to hold his grand opening in June. The store will continue to sell Lebanese staples—from breads to nuts.
There will be a flurry of commercial activity on 43rd Ave., between 43rd and 45th Street in the next two months.
Habibi, will take over from El Shater, the Romanian Garden will be moving to the Super Market space, and Met Food is expanding to where the hair salon, Ceci Beauty, used to be. Ceci Beauty has just moved across the street (43rd Ave and 44th Street).
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17 Comments
I like this store all the food is made with love. The store feels so Alive with all the music. The shawarma is very delicious I love it. I wish them good luck
the newspaper should get their sources straight. michael ajaka also owns this fabulous store, AKA the owner of Lentinis pizza
to the the newspaper and commenters, give recognition, where it is deserved. michael ajaka also owns this business. you may know him from lentinis pizza. the newspaper should check their sources, especially since just a customer, was able to get it right.
ONE LITTLE EXPLAINATION FOR ALL THE COMENTERS ONLY MAHDI AND HIS WIFE ARE THE NEW OWNERS FOR THE NEW HABIBI . THE BROTHERS SPLIT. AND IT IS NOT OSMAN’S FAMILY BUSINESS NO MORE. ALL BROTHERS ARE IN BUSINESS THEY JUST SPLIT. AHMED OSMAN MOVED TO 43 03 QUEENS BLV WITH THE NAME OF SOUK EL SHATER.
Good news for all our lovely customer and neighborhood. El shater is staying in the area and they will have a grand openning at their new location at 43 03 queens blvd whiches the top corner OF HABIBI right next to yum yum restaurant and also the name is going to be SOUK EL SHATER. The phone# is going to stay 718-392-2702 phone will be available on may 12-2011. the store will be under AHMED OSMAN manegment the oldest brother. SOUK EL SHATER is going to carry all delicious lebanese food, sweets and grocery. shawarama (chicken & beef) shish kabab, hummus, baba ghanouj, tabouli salad, fatoush salad, zaatar bread ,cheese bread and all kind lebanese sweet and much more .we wish habibi restaurant good luck…………BUT SOUK EL SHATER AS ALWAYS will be next to their customers every where. who nows maybe for the future SOUK EL SHATER WILL EXPAND TO ASTORIA AND ALL UNITED STATES………. LOVE YOU AHMED AND HIS WIFE
great news. We need some good news on this forum. It was getting to depressing to read about all the closing. I am so happy that one of the brothers decided to stay in business. I wish him all the best.
This is wonderful news! I expect to visit the new shop even more than the former one if it has both coffee and seating.
Also, I just walked by Harari/Dynamic/Quest Realty on the same block, and they appear to be gone. Empty windows, missing desks, bags of trash…
This is so good …………..
This is the best neighborhood news so far! I’m so happy I’ll be able to once again be a regular customer of Mehdi and his lovely family. And looking forward to all of the delicious food again!
This is good news.
I like that store. The zataar bread is delicious.
This is fantastic news. It is better than winning the lottery. Best of luch to all these business. and a big welcome to the brother who is joing us in his new venture.
a great day for sunnyside and this web site for reporting this great news!!!!
Like.
Good to hear!
So happy to have good news about expanding food options in the neighborhood. Good Luck to all these entrepreneurs!
Excellent!!!
Fantastic news for the hummous-loving Geiers!!!