User:Bobamnertiopsis/karmel

Karmel Square

History
Karmel Square was opened in February 2000 by Minneapolis-based Palestinian developer Basim Sabri. Sabri had previously opened the International Bazaar, another indoor mall focused on businesses by Minneapolis's Latino community, on Lake Street. In 1997, he bought an old 30000 sqft warehouse formerly used by Midwest Machinery on Pillsbury Avenue and Lake Street. He leased space in the building to Nassar Mohamed, who opened Karmel Coffee which became popular with Somali customers, some of whom soon asked Sabri about renting other space in the building. Sabri planned the mall to serve the city's Somali population; the first person to sign up for a stall at Karmel Square was Faduma Farah who was one of 33 tenants in the mall by May 2000. Karmel Square had its grand opening on May 20 of that year, at which point stalls in the mall cost $400 per month to rent. The mall took its name from Sabri's daughter, Karmel.

In 2001, the mall was fined for a number of fire code violations; Sabri had required inspectors to get a warrant from Hennepin County before he let them into the mall's premises.