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Success Story: Alforon Restaurant
When you think of flatbread, you may think of pizza or another type of Italian food – but many in San Diego think of Alforon. The restaurant has become one of the city’s top spots for Lebanese cuisine. It was voted top #25 of Yelp’s 100 most-searched restaurants, earned the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Middle Eastern Cuisine in San Diego, as well as was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
When the pandemic struck, owner George Salameh faced an uphill battle navigating restrictions from normal operations. Salameh is a client of our International Rescue Committee SBDC and says the most important thing the SBDC did was provide notifications and support, sharing how when there was a grant available they would let him know as well as help him with the application and tracking. “We were very grateful,” he says of the support and relief programs. “Without those, we wouldn’t have been in business. It’s been lifesaving. A nice life raft to get on shore. So hopefully we’ll stay on shore now; we won’t get back into deep sea again.”
His motto is: “E Pluribus Unum” meaning “Out of Many One” as he’s proud to be counted one of many immigrants worldwide who’ve been able to settle in the United States, particularly San Diego. He adds he feels “blessed to have been embraced by the local community” and tourists. Check out the restaurant at www.alforon.com!
Areas of Assistance
Training
Pandemic relief updates
Economic Impact
EIDL, PPP, RRF as well as county and city grants
Location
San Diego, CA 92115
“Without those (pandemic relief programs), we wouldn’t have been in business. It’s been lifesaving. A nice life raft to get on shore. So hopefully we’ll stay on shore now; we won’t get back into deep sea again.”
