Get the latest news delivered daily!

Get the latest news delivered daily!

Role: Advocate for Syrian refugees; co-owner of Aleppo’s Kitchen in Anaheim

Bio: Hajomar was born and raised in Jableh, a coastal city on the Mediterranean in Syria, where he and his family were involved in the food processing business. Hajomar and his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1985, but his family returned to Syria in 2003. They came back to the United States in 2012 when the civil war worsened abroad. Hajomar lives with his wife, Suher, and their three sons in Cypress.

Why he’s an influencer: This year, as Syrian refugees and asylum seekers have come into Orange County, Hajomar’s restaurant, in the Little Arabia section of Anaheim, has become a haven for the newcomers. He’s hired Syrian refugees as waiters and in other positions, and customers see the restaurant as a go-to spot for information and discussion about the Syrian crisis. Hajomar says his goal is to unify the diverse Syrian community in Orange County.

Biggest challenge: Balancing the task of running a restaurant with concern about his extended family. “The biggest challenge is to carry on with my job and deal with all this stress when I’m worried about my family and my wife’s family back home in Syria who are in great danger every single day.”

Work philosophy: “My philosophy in life and in work is to care for all human beings. … We have to love each other.”

Thoughts on community: “I want my restaurant to be a quality establishment, a symbol of what Syria stands for… I would like it to be a place where local Syrians can come to and feel like they’re home.”

Inspiration: His wife, Suher, who is also head chef at Aleppo’s Kitchen. “Without her, I cannot do anything. She’s so smart and kind. My employees, they call her ‘Mama’ because that’s who she is to them. We are not just partners, but also friends.”

Can’t do without: “My kibbeh machine.” Kibbeh is a Middle Eastern dish made with cracked wheat and meat. Hajomar counts on the machine to mold his restaurant’s iconic cigar-shaped kibbehs.

What’s next for 2016: Hajomar plans to recreate a souk, a typical Middle Eastern-style open-air marketplace in the area outside his restaurant. “When people come here I want them to feel like it’s Little Syria.”

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

Get the latest news delivered daily!