Palestinian-owned cafe has flourished during the Israel-Palestine conflict

Nearly 30 years ago, Mahmoud Shahin bought a coffee house and turned it into what the St. Paul and Como community know as Mim’s Cafe. Today, Shahin said he’s making more money than ever.

Mahmoud, a Palestinian immigrant, moved to the U.S. in 1986 to attend the University of Minnesota. He graduated and became a physics professor, but left academia to serve the community differently.

“I opened this for my brother, but he went back home, so then I decided to run the business and have been for years,” Shahin said.

The past few years have turned out well for the restaurateur. Mim’s is growing because the pandemic allowed the restaurant to expand. “Catering parties and online ordering have actually increased our opportunities,” Shahin said, citing the university and weddings.

His family, though, is suffering. 

Shahin typically would spend four months in the U.S. operating the restaurant and eight months in the West Bank with his family. But the Israel-Hamas war has made this impossible. His family has no power and lives in constant fear. “They live in a hell of a place,” he said.

Mahmoud Shahin and his son Yusef haven’t seen their family for six months. 

They have been managing the restaurant together since its opening. Yusef, a university student, has been working at the restaurant for two years. “I have a bunch of siblings, so one of them probably won't go to school, and maybe will take over,” he said.

For Mahmoud, family isn’t just blood – it’s the guests, too. He said making people feel at home and comfortable is the most important thing about his restaurant. “I've always loved people. It's not for making the money,” he said

Kathleen Boris-Lawrie, a university professor, found the cafe just driving by, and has come in regularly ever since. 

“I found that there were no other places I wanted to eat,” she said, adding that she introduced the cafe to a colleague.  Boris-Lawrie said the food and friendly atmosphere drew her back. “It’s not a very luxurious environment, but it’s authentic,” she said.

Yusef said that Mim’s Cafe gets extremely busy, prospering not only during the school year but in the summer too. “As long as we are strong enough to work this hard job, I think the business will be there,” Mahmoud said.

Throughout the war, Mahmoud said guests and neighbors have been sympathetic, showing solidarity and support by coming to the restaurant – whether that's for 10 minutes or two hours.

While profit is important, community support is, as well. “We always share the same values, same ideas,” he said.

University graduate student David Rudolph regularly comes to Mim’s Cafe for the varied ethnic cuisine and to show support. He said that the war makes supporting Palestinian-owned businesses vital. “Having diversity with food is important,” he said.

With the fall semester approaching, Mim’s Cafe is preparing for a busy period.

When asked about the future of the cafe, Mahmoud is confident. “I think we could make as many sales as we want,” he said.