Sudbury's Damascus Restaurant owners bounce back from yet another challenge
A Syrian restaurant in Greater Sudbury that was forced to close because of a fire has rebuilt and reopened.
Being shut down since mid-winter is just one of many challenges the Qarqouz family has faced. They were forced to flee their home country in 2016 because of a brutal civil war.
"We left from Syria with our pants and shirts that’s it," Mohammad Qarqouz said Thursday, of the family's arrival in northern Ontario.
“My dad worked at Golden Grain (Bakery), he worked at Costco, he worked at Regency Bakery and then he decided to open his own restaurant … We lost our restaurant, our business, our home -- we lost everything back home."
The family opened Damascus Restaurant downtown in April 2018. While in that location the family dealt with vandalism and theft before the lease ran out and the building was ultimately torn down.
They took a few months to find a new location, but when they opened again, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and then, most recently a fire.
They closed again for three months to repair the damages.
“Some of the stuff we could clean," Qarqouz said. "It took a while -- just the smell was in here for probably the last two weeks before we opened."
Through it all, the family said Sudburians have been supportive.
“I think, especially in the last couple years, we’ve all seen, you know, a shift towards local because this is the heartbeat of the city," said regular customer Judd Hards.
"It's where everybody comes and dines and eats and does everything. If you don’t support local then they’re all going to disappear."
The owners said they lost two employees due to the closure after the fire, so it’s been a father-and-son-run operation for the most part. They are now hoping to give back and to help Ukrainian refugees by offering them employment.
“My door is open for every Ukrainian," said Hussein Qarqouz. "I (could) use two or three Ukraine people with me because very good cooking and food there.”
Damascus is open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Luxury cruise line selling world cruise suite for US$1.7 million
Luxury operator Regent Seven Seas Cruises is raising their price tag to eye-watering levels, with a suite on an upcoming 140-day world voyage costing US$1.7 million.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
King Charles will attend Easter Sunday service at Windsor
Buckingham Palace officials say King Charles III and Queen Camilla will attend an Easter service at the chapel at Windsor Castle on Sunday.