New Dearborn La Shish to Reopen in March
Two weeks after we first posted a story about the La Shish name reappearing in Dearborn, the Detroit Free Press finally got around to writing its version, done by Associated Press reporter and Dearborn resident Jeff Karoub.
We didn’t have the name of the new owner when we first published our story but the AP story says the new owner of the La Shish is Restaurateur Carmel Halloun. Halloun told the AP he has acquired the rights to use the La Shish name and plans to open a restaurant in March in the former chain’s first location in Dearborn.
Halloun, 40, said he employs people from the former chain at his Taboon restaurants in Flint Township and Sterling Heights and uses La Shish recipes.
Halloun told the AP he is not connected to former owner Talal Chahine, who fled the U.S. in 2005 and was charged with multiple counts of tax evasion and citizenship fraud. Federal investigators, who allege Chahine skimmed $20 million in cash from his business, say they believe he’s in Lebanon.
The La Shish chain closed in 2008 after nearly 20 years in business.
Several former La Shish restaurants and its Dearborn headquarters have been acquired by a chain called the Palm Palace, including the La Shish in west Dearborn on Michigan Avenue, between Monroe and Mason. That building was purchased in a government auction last year for about $250,000. It is not clear when or if that restaurant will reopen.
Halloun’s landlord, Bilal Haidar, filed articles of incorporation for La Shish Inc. last July, after the corporation registered to Chahine dissolved, according to the Michigan Department of Labor, Energy and Economic Growth, AP says.
January 16th, 2011 at 9:13 am
I saw this on a billboard – perhaps located at the Rotunda and I-94 exit ramp – cannot recall the billboard location exactly. I wondered how the soon to happen reopening came about. Thanks for the explanation. I looked at your earlier post, too. Of course, as others have already pointed out, the only problem with this is LaShish’s terrible history in Dearborn and why it closed in the first place. I also recall a [now amusing] LaShish experience my sister had years ago. She ordered her meal, but the waiter brought her the wrong dish. When she pointed this out to him, he said, “too bad, you have to eat this.” I love middle eastern food, but my sister’s experience and other experiences I have had make me uncomfortable about how non-Arabs are treated in Dearborn’s middle eastern restaurants. I now go to one closest to my home and order carry out. Sometimes I’m treated very well, sometimes I’m not. Just depends. But I love the fried kibbie, so I endure.
January 16th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
I’ve eaten at several middle eastern restaurants in Dearborn and have had a variety of experiences. Overall they have been very positive and the staff have done their best to make dining a pleasant experience. My only complaint about LaShish in west Dearborn was the poor service. I can understand that at times there may be a cultural difference. After a group of us ordered a multi-dish assortment at a middle eastern restaurant on the eastside, we had just bits and pieces left over. No one wanted to take the remains home. Rather than let it be thrown out I told the waitress I would take it home for my dogs. The look of horror on her face was shocking. Only later did I learn that dogs are not regarded the same in the way and she apparently took it as an insult. I have always felt welcomed at Al Sultan on Inkster just north of Cherry Hill, La Pita and Cedarland. By the way, the cheese bread and take out food at the Golden Bakery across from Target on Ford Rd in Dbn Hts is great!
January 16th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Balil Haidar, together with his brother Marwan, are reported to be the owners and operators of the Starvin Marvin strip club business in Detroit.
I suspect they will bring a very business oriented approach to La Shish, with an eye toward maximizing their return on investment.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
We have lived in Dearborn for 20 years and love Middle Eastern food. We are non-middle Eastern. We have eaten at many restaurants and so have many of our friends – both men and women. We have always been treated respectfully, even when we ask for a “doggy bag”. When we take home leftovers, we have always been given extra bread and sauce.
Sorry, about any bad experiences that you may have had. I would never take being told that I had to eat something that I did not order.
Every waiter/waitress can have a bad day as can we all – no matter where they work.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
If this is true this will just be another money laundering operation. The more things change the more they stay the same. Maybe Mayor McCheese could travel to Lebanon with the Haidars, and build a medical center together with city money
January 21st, 2011 at 1:48 am
great thing they ne owners spoke up and let everyone know they have nothing to do with the history of la shish..love there food cant wait for it to open
January 23rd, 2011 at 1:31 am
The previous owners might have been in much bigger trouble than taxes I gather. It serves the La Shish name correctly to be tarnished for good. Those owners were dishonest criminals. It’s opportunistic to the point of being a little naive to keep the name. But hey people in general have short memories and are naive anyhow and this man (Halloun) owns other successful establishments, let’s see how he does. I have seen some very cruel restaurateurs who treat their FEMALE wait staff like crap. So let hope he sets himself apart and treats the female waitstaff with dignity and respect, even if they are non-Arab.