Following in the footsteps of the popular Let’s Hummus and the Lebanese Baker, Saint John entrepreneur Alex Haram is now ready to ask the world to “Be My Shopper.”
Haram is currently working on opening a grocery store under that name later this spring. He not only plans to sell local products like meat, produce, snacks, cold drinks, coffee, and ice cream, but also a selection of hard-to-find international favourites.
Haram says running Let’s Hummus has shown him how hard it can be to find some international foods, even at the best of times.
“As owners of a Lebanese restaurant, we are always having a hard time finding products and finding our Lebanese products and spices,” says Haram. He adds that it was especially tough to source some items during the pandemic.
“I thought I would get my own stuff and open a store and see how it goes and I got this spot here–It is a really good spot,” he says of the new space at 100 Water Street, located next to Steamer’s Lobster Co.
Haram says Be My Shopper will soon open across from the cruise ship terminal and the planned Waterfront Container Village.
Be My Shopper is set to open at 100 Water St. across from the cruise ship terminal and the planned Waterfront Container Village. (Image: Alex Haram)
He says he’s also been getting interest from the uptown restaurant scene, with many anxious to see what can be brought in from an uptown grocer with easier access to international ingredients.
He is currently targeting a grand opening for Be My Shopper on May 1 but says he may open a few days before for a trial run if everything remains on schedule.
Haram says he is not simply focusing on doing a Lebanese supermarket but will instead have a lot of international varieties too.
“We’re going to have all kinds of candies, chips, drinks, energy drinks, all kinds of stuff–in addition to an international section which will have the Lebanese spices, some Indian spices, Mexican, and other international stuff as well,” says Haram.
He also notes the large window added to the front of the building, which is ready for selling ice cream, popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy.
Family keeping up the business
It has been a busy 24 months for Haram, who during Covid-19 moved Let’s Hummus from its original Main Street location to its new home at 44 Water Street, just steps away from Be My Shopper.
After the popular take-out restaurant moved uptown, the former Main Street location later became The Lebanese Baker, which, according to Haram, was always part of his plan.
“The good thing now in both places, it’s two different things,” Haram told Huddle in 2020 on the expansion. “Let’s Hummus is the shawarma, the fast-food, Lebanese street food, and over here is one hundred percent-baked stuff.”
Haram’s family worked hard to keep the business moving during the pandemic, and like Let’s Hummus and The Lebanese Baker, Haram says opening Be My Shopper will also be a family affair in its initial stages.
“The pandemic was really tough. We managed to get through with minimizing staff and putting a lot of work on me and my family–and that is the only reason we were able to stay open during the pandemic,” said Haram.
“Especially during the orange and the red phase, it was really tough. Now things are getting better so we are hoping for the best.”
Tyler Mclean is a reporter with Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
