Two Businesses in a Revere Shopping Plaza Are an Anchor for Local Arab and Muslim Communities | Eater Boston

"I stepped into Sayar Market and felt a sudden relief at finding a camouflaged nook offering a reliable supply of North African and Levantine provisions. Next to familiar fresh grape leaves I discovered a cardboard box cascading with hamleh, “the plant that carries,” its pods full of fresh green chickpeas that, when roasted and salted, are a cherished Jordanian spring street snack. The halal butcher counter carried ample freshly cut meats and rarer animal parts like lamb kidneys and chicken gizzards, and nearby I found an expansive dairy section and dizzying assortments of tahini, fruit molasses, pickles, za'atar, dates, maqdous (pickled eggplants stuffed with walnuts), and even tagines for sale. Owner Younes Sayar opened the Revere shop in 2013 after leaving the taxi business to create a grocery that mirrors everyday American stores while serving local Arab and Muslim communities; he later expanded the Revere location in 2015, opened a larger Norwood location in 2020, and plans a third site in Waltham. Sayar also sources nostalgic items—like the Hawaiian orange soda beloved in Morocco—and gears up heavily for holidays such as Eid al-Adha, keeping the market well stocked as customers shop for sweets, dates, and fresh mint." - Laila Ibrahim