The main stage featured performances from local singers and one Yemeni singer along with a singing contest. Photo courtesy of AACC

DEARBORN – Warren Avenue on the city’s east side was
transformed into one of metro Detroit’s biggest street festivals yet again last
weekend as part of the 16th Arab International Festival.

The festival’s organizer, the American Arab Chamber of
Commerce, said that an estimated 325,000 people, an all-time high, visited the
festival this year to take part in activities such as concerts, the “Arab
Idol” singing contest, carnival rides, eating contests  and more. Performers included local
singers Jad Soudah, Bassem Saleh as well as Yemeni singer Abdul Alakshara on
the main stage.

“We’re very happy with the success of the festival. The
large turnout shows the determination of the chamber to celebrate our heritage
and the unshakable will of the community to support the chamber, and we are
very proud of our accomplishment,” said American Arab Chamber Chairman
Ahmad Chebbani.

A study by Michigan State University professor Daniel Stynes
released prior to the festival this year showed that the festival brings in
about $7 million worth of economic impact to the area, and others were able to
rent booths and tent space to sell Arabic food, arts and crafts, apparel  and other items.

Despite the strong outlook of the study, results from some
business owners near the festival area were mixed after the 2011 festival.

Restaurants owners in the area said their businesses saw
strong benefits.

“It helps our business every year,” said Sam Sobh,
owner of Cedarland Restaurant, “People come to eat before or after they go
to the festival.”

Jamal Koussan, owner of Super Greenland, Dollar Kingdom,
Furniture Land and Greenland Market, all located on Warren, had a much
different take on the impact of the festival, however.

“It hurts all five of my businesses every single
year,” he said.

Koussan strongly blamed confrontational, anti-Islam
Christian missionaries for the troubles this year as well, saying that their
presence is a continued problem.  

He said that the festival was a lot slower this year at his
businesses and said he hoped that it would move to Hemlock Park or the Civic
Center in the future.

There are currently no plans from the chamber to change the
location, however.

Hussine Haidar, whose family owns Nadia’s Pharmacy, said he
also had issues with the festival. 

“The festival is the worst thing that happens to our
business every single year,” he said. “This year we did not even
bother opening the store because of how much money we lost last year trying to
sell ice cream and treats. The organizers are inconsiderate and purposely put
up tents to block out the local businesses.”

Kassem Rizk, the manager of Hamido’s Restaurant along
Warren, said that the festival brings benefits, however.

“We are always busier during the three days of the
festival,” he said.

Both Hamido’s and Cedarland are located a few blocks outside
of the festival, with the others located inside of the festival area, which is
more congested with attendees.

In order to cover security costs this year, the Wayne County
Sheriff’s Department handled security at the event in place of city police
officers in a cost-saving measure enacted in light of large budget
deficits. 

Chamber Executive Director Fay Beydoun thanked the sheriff’s
department for their generosity along with the event’s sponsors including Ford
Motor Company and volunteers and said that the nice weather and family-centered
activities were credited with the success of the event as well.

The chamber may incur some additional costs because of
requests from the city and is still in the process of finalizing the costs and
calculating its own revenues from the festival according to Beydoun.