"Razavi had been a regular customer at the market ever since he moved to Berkeley in 1976 from his hometown, Yazd, Iran, to attend San Jose State University. At that time, Middle East Market was the only place where Persian and Iranian immigrants could find familiar products from home, including teas, spices, sweets and rice, and it became a cultural and culinary hub for the Iranian community."
"At a loss for a new direction, his wife, Madeline (a psychotherapist), wisely suggested he consider buying Middle East Market and turning it into something special. When he bought the market in 2015, he made his then-20-year-old son, Amir, co-owner with an eye to the future. He renovated the market's interior, which needed extensive work, and set up a kitchen in the back."
Hossein Razavi, 68, co-owns Middle East Cafe on San Pablo Avenue, an expansion of Middle East Market where he was a longtime customer. The market served as a vital source of Persian products—teas, spices, sweets and rice—and a cultural hub for Iranian immigrants since the 1970s. Razavi moved to Berkeley in 1976 from Yazd, Iran, and faced interrupted education after the 1979 revolution. He spent decades driving taxis and eventually purchased businesses he worked for. In 2015 he bought Middle East Market, made his son Amir co-owner, renovated the interior and installed a kitchen; the Koobideh kabab is a standout dish.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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