Entrepreneurship

Ami Hassan, the personable owner of Falafel Place, immigrated to Canada and started his restaurant on September 5, 1986. Falafel Place is a deli restaurant situated in River Heights which offers Middle-Eastern short-order food mainly at breakfast and lunch. During the interview, Ami got up several times to welcome new arrivals in his restaurant with coffee and hugs, and kept an eye on business overall.

How did you decide to start your business?

I couldn't get a job!

Really?

I applied at many places. That's why most immigrants open their own businesses. English as a second language is a problem, and it's hard for people with different backgrounds.

What demands did starting the business place on your personal life?

The first two years were difficult. I worked long hours, learning the language, learning the tax system. It was hard to hire employees and hard to let them go if they didn't work out - I still can't do that. I can't let them go no matter how bad they are. It's still better than working for someone else.

But what about your personal life? Wife and kids?

If you can survive the first two years, it's okay. My wife had another job, so she was busy earning money to support us while I got established. We didn't have kids at the time, so that wasn't a problem.

What were the most, and the least, enjoyable aspects of starting the business?

The most enjoyable aspect was that I did it my way. The least enjoyable was that I had to deal with government permits and licenses. I wasn't aware I'd have to do that when I started.

What were the biggest surprises along the way as