Latest news with #DamascusShawarma
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Popular Sudbury restaurant goes public with unhappiness with their location
Damascus Shawarma in Sudbury nearly closed after social media outcry over landlord disputes. The shop's owners cite numerous issues but vow to stay. Damascus Shawarma in Sudbury nearly closed after social media outcry over landlord disputes. The shop's owners, Syrian refugees, cite numerous issues and stress but vow to stay following an outpouring of community support. Madison Marier has more. A well-known restaurant in Sudbury stirred up commotion on social media last week. It started with a post on Facebook that turned to city-wide outrage. Damascus Shawarma said in the post that they have had enough and almost quit. Ousama Qarqouz from Damascus Shawarma said they were overwhelmed by the support they received from the public. Damascus Shawarma Damascus Shawarma, a well-known restaurant in Sudbury, stirred up commotion on social media last week. It started with a post on Facebook that turned to city-wide outrage. (Photo from video) 'When we posted that, the whole community was behind us,' Qarqouz said. 'The whole community was supporting us, which has encouraged us to keep going.' 'One reason keeps me in Sudbury -- just one reason and (that is having the) community behind me,' added Hussein Qarqouz, a baker from Syria who brought his family here in 2016 when he was forced to flee civil war. He eventually opened Damascus Shawarma, which has become a popular eatery in the city. Frustrated with landlord In the Facebook post, however, the Qarqouz family cited many reasons for their frustration, mainly disputes with their landlord that they said make them want to move. The family says they can no longer tolerate their relationship with their landlord. 'How long can we put up with this?' said Ousama Qarqouz. 'My dad's 50 years old and we came to this country because there's freedom. We ran from war.' The Qarqouz family said they work hard every day maintaining their family business. 'I work very hard ... 12 hours every day. I … never take a day off,' said Hussein. Damascus Shawarma It started with a post on Facebook that turned to city-wide outrage. Damascus Shawarma said in the post that they have had enough and almost quit. (Photo from video) 'I don't know (the) law and my (English) is not 100 per cent. (But) I am working very hard.' CTV News reached out to P. J. Development Sudbury, one of four owners of the building where the restaurant is located. In collaboration with their lawyer, they gave us this statement: 'We've been in business for approximately 39 years, and our position is that this is a private matter between a landlord and a tenant that we are not prepared to discuss publicly.' Damascus statement CTV News reached out to P. J. Development Sudbury, one of four owners of the building where the restaurant is located. They sent us this statement. (Photo from video) The family said they have 18 months left on their lease, but due to the added stress of business, it's in their best interests to look for a new location. We spoke to other store owners in the same strip mall, who told us they have not been mistreated by the four property owners.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Sudbury shawarma shop considers moving, closing after feud with landlord
Northern Ontario Watch Damascus Shawarma in Sudbury nearly closed after social media outcry over landlord disputes. The shop's owners, Syrian refugees, cite numerous issues and stress but vow to stay following an outpouring of community support. Madison Marier has more.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- CTV News
Family-operated restaurant in Sudbury frustrated after another break-in
A well-known family in Sudbury say they are frustrated that their restaurant, Damascus Shawarma, was again the victim of a break-and-enter. A well-known family in Sudbury say they are frustrated that their restaurant, Damascus Shawarma, was again the victim of a break-and-enter. The owners of Damascus Shawarma in Sudbury say they are frustrated that, yet again, their restaurant was targeted by thieves, but they're not giving up. Hussein Qarqouz said he and his staff had a busy day Saturday serving customers at both their storefronts on Lasalle Boulevard and the food truck at Bell Park. Shwarma The owners of Damascus Shawarma in Sudbury say they are frustrated that yet again, their restaurant was targeted by thieves. (Photo from video) Shwarma2 After everyone had left the site in New Sudbury on Saturday, culprits broke in, damaging the back door and making off with roughly $500 in cash from the register. (Supplied) After everyone had left the site in New Sudbury, culprits broke in, damaging the back door and making off with roughly $500 in cash from the register. 'Saturday, I start at 5 (p.m.), I finish 1:15 in the morning. I think he followed me, followed my staff, too,' Qarqouz said, adding that the break-in appeared to happen about 15 minutes after they closed. The family immigrated to Canada from Syria 10 years ago and opened a business downtown in 2018. It moved to the Lasalle location at the end of 2021. Qarqouz said this was the fourth break-in since they opened – and the second at their current location. 'We work so hard' 'It's very frustrating when we work so hard for somebody to just come and steal like that,' said Osama Qarqouz, manager of Damascus, and one of Hussein's sons. 'We have a lot of people that we're responsible for. They depend on us.' Since the restaurant opened, the family has been vocal about giving back to the Sudbury community that supported them when they arrived as refugees. 'This is just a message -- if you need, please just come and ask us. Don't steal. Because that's never a good thing,' Osama said. Shwarma3 The family immigrated to Canada from Syria 10 years ago and opened a business downtown in 2018. It moved to the Lasalle location at the end of 2021. (Photo from video) Surveillance cameras captured the culprit responsible for the recent break-in, but not their face. Greater Sudbury Police said the investigation is ongoing. In an email to CTV News, a spokesperson said the individual left the scene prior to police being called. The suspect is described as a slim man with long dark hair, wearing jeans and a dark jacket. Three other break-ins in the area have been reported to police over the past few months. According to a recent report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the number of small businesses affected by crime almost doubled in the last year, with vandalism, theft and litter the most common issues. 'Imagine working hard, providing jobs, contributing to the community, just to have your goods stolen, windows broken, and property vandalized,' said Keyli Loeppky, CFIB's director for Alberta and interprovincial affairs. 'For small businesses, it's devastating when they are hit by crime over and over again.' Not giving up Meanwhile, the Qarqouz family said that since posting about the break-in on social media, they've experienced a positive response from the community. They add they're not letting the recent challenge deter them from giving up on either the business or Sudbury, just yet. 'Thank you, everyone, from my heart,' Hussein said.
