This video was produced by a youth journalist who participated in The Green Line’s Alexandra Park Youth Journalism program in partnership with Scadding Court Community Centre. It’s part of the series “Know Your Neighbour,” which profiles the people and places important to community members in Alexandra Park, Kensington Market and Chinatown.
Chef Harwash is a food stall run by two Syrian brothers, Houssam and Oussama Harwash, who’ve been serving shawarmas and Middle Eastern street foods since 2020.
Their food container is part of Market 707, a collection of upcycled shipping containers that host a variety of cuisines and services on the sidewalk next to Scadding Court Community Centre.
Houssam Harwash says Scadding Court helped seed their business because it offered them relatively low rent. Still, he and his brother face challenges, especially in today’s flagging economy.
Despite this, Houssam Harwash appreciates the community centre’s welcoming and supportive community as a newcomer to Canada. The brothers also enjoy interacting with their customers, especially the diverse clientele that comes through Market 707.
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