A San Francisco Palestinian corner store clerk builds community
His wife’s chocolate chip cookies sit in a basket on the check-out counter. A faded magazine clipping of him and his three sons is tacked up between shelves of liquor. A sign outside encourages anyone who is hungry to inquire within, where a special rack of assorted foods is available for those in need. For Imad Shaheen, owner of Key Food Market in the Lower Haight, it all comes down to caring for his people. “It’s a community, more than just a business,” Shaheen said, speaking from behind the counter at his shop on the corner of Fillmore and Oak streets. “It started like just a business operation, but now you know everybody by name, know their family, know their stories … so it becomes a mixture of business and friendship.” Neighbors come to the shop to celebrate their birthdays, play a tune […]
