At the heart of the Wadi family were their recipes. Wajdi, the eldest son knew they were special. Hear how a small storefront in northeast Minneapolis became a go-to destination for Middle Eastern food.
—–Producer: Amira Warren-Yearby Editorial support: Britt Aamodt, Emily Krumberger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Transcript
Wajdi Wadi grew up around rich flavors and food in his home in Kuwait. Chicken Shawarma, Baba Ghannuj, Falafel. But his grandfather, Abu Saeed’s pita bread recipe was a family jewel. Eventually Wajdi left Kuwait to pursue a degree in finance and marketing at Morehead State University in Minnesota. But he dreamed of a place where his family's recipes could thrive.
It was 1986. In a small store front in North East Minneapolis, Wajdi opened Holy Land - a middle eastern deli. Soon, His mother, “Mama Fatima” joined him in the U.S., teaching him her famous recipes and how to run a business people loved.
About a decade later, his younger brother Majdi joined the team. Majdi worked hard to expand the family business, bringing their grandfather's famous pita bread and their house made hummus to local grocery stores.
The business has expanded from a family deli to a bakery, restaurant and market for middle eastern goods. Today, Holy Land is a brand and a household name.