Wissam, 50, from Lebanon
Wissam runs a Middle Eastern cuisine stall, specialising in pickles and snacks, under the name Hoxton Beach. His preparations begin at 11:30 am. Before the pandemic, Fridays were his busiest day, but that’s no longer the case. Now, the stall operates at normal capacity only two or three days a week, with Wednesday being the busiest day, as many customers work remotely on Mondays and Fridays.
With a loud, market-style shout in Arabic, Wissam happily introduces us to his next-door neighbour, Rasheed.
Rasheed, 41, from Palestine
Rasheed, like Wissam, sells Middle Eastern food at a neighbouring stall called “Mediterranean Salad.” He used to work with Wissam at Hoxton Beach until he was able to purchase take over the “…Salads” when it became available. Now, Rasheed has his sights set on opening a restaurant one day. Both traders have seen a reduction in business since the pandemic, but they remain optimistic, making the most of the busier days to compensate for the slower ones.
When asked about the diversity among traders and whether the current political upheavals around the world affect their relationships, Wissam responded without hesitation: “We’re like one family here. We help and support each other. If one of us runs out of, say, salad or utensils, the other is quick to step in. We don’t do conflicts here.”
Ends.
