Why Community Tables Matter: Building Relationships Through Shared Meals
A Place to Share, Not Just Eat When I think about the heart of what we do at Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine and Balboa International Market, it always comes back to one thing—bringing people together. Food is at the center of that, of course, but there’s something even more powerful that happens when people sit down […]
Growing Without Losing Ground: Staying True to My Roots in Business
Finding Purpose Beyond Profit When I first stepped into the world of entrepreneurship, I didn’t know what the journey would fully look like—but I knew exactly how I wanted it to feel. I wanted to build something rooted in care, respect, and quality. After years of working as a pharmacist and observing how businesses served […]
Built on Quality: Why Excellence Drives Everything I Do
A Lesson From My Earliest Days Long before I opened the doors to Balboa International Market or expanded into the restaurant and catering world, I learned an important lesson about quality. In my younger years, working jobs at gas stations, car washes, and restaurants while putting myself through school, I saw firsthand how people responded […]
The Art of Sourcing Authentic Mediterranean Ingredients
When I first entered the world of food and hospitality, I knew that authenticity would be at the core of everything I did. Coming from a background in pharmacy, I understood the importance of quality and precision. These same principles guided me when I established my grocery business and later expanded into the restaurant industry. […]
Bringing the Mediterranean to San Diego: My Journey to Sourcing the Best Ingredients
The journey from pharmacist to food entrepreneur has been an exciting and rewarding one. When I founded Balboa International Market and later expanded into Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine, my vision was simple: to bring the authentic flavors of the Mediterranean and beyond to San Diego. I wanted to ensure that my customers had access to the […]
Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine: A Taste of Tradition with a Modern Twist
The journey of opening Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine has been one filled with passion, exploration, and a dedication to preserving the rich culinary traditions of the Mediterranean while embracing modern innovation. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to create a dining experience that paid homage to the time-honored recipes that have been passed down […]
Building Bridges Through Business: My Journey of Entrepreneurship and Community Impact
When I started my professional journey as a pharmacist, I could never have imagined where life would take me. Pharmacy, for me, was more than a career—it was a way to help people, to be of service in meaningful ways. Yet, as rewarding as that work was, I always felt a pull toward something greater, […]
The Entrepreneurial Journey: How My Background in Pharmacy Shaped My Approach to Owning an International Market
The journey from pharmacy to owning an international food market has been an unexpected yet rewarding one. After spending years in the healthcare field, transitioning to retail and food entrepreneurship came with its challenges and opportunities. What surprised me most, though, was how much the skills and experiences from my time in pharmacy have been […]
Cultural Diversity on a Plate: How Balboa Market Celebrates Global Flavors and Strengthens San Diego’s Community
Growing up in a multicultural environment, I always appreciated the beauty of diversity and the way food serves as a gateway to understanding different cultures. From spices that tell stories of ancient traditions to the aromas that fill the air when a dish is being prepared, food has a unique way of connecting people. As […]
Expanding Beyond the Aisles: Strategies for Growth in Ethnic Grocery and Hospitality Businesses
Running a business isn’t just about turning a profit; it’s about creating something that connects with people on a deeper level. For me, that journey began in 2005, when I purchased a small grocery store in my San Diego neighborhood. What started as a simple venture to provide for my family evolved into a larger […]