DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Middle Eastern cuisine market might seem overcrowded in Metro Detroit,  home to the largest Arab American population outside of the Middle East. But for Ali Hojaij, owner of Ollie’s restaurants,  it’s a field with plenty more potential and growth for new investments.

This week, Hojaij celebrated the grand opening of his third Ollie’s restaurant in Dearborn Heights, located at the Heights Plaza on Ford Rd. Along with Mayor Dan Paletko, dozens of city officials, community leaders and business owners turned out to indulge in the authentic Lebanese food that is now being praised as far north as Sterling Heights.

When Hojaij came to the U.S. in 1990 with his family, he had always known that he wanted to dive into the restaurant business. Back in Lebanon, he had developed skills as a chef, taking traditional recipes from his mother and grandmother and adding his own unique blend of spices and herbs.

“I immediately fell in love with the restaurant industry here. I knew that it was a tough business, but I loved cooking, and I loved being in the kitchen,” Hojaij tells The Arab American News.

Above: City officials, business owners and community leaders take part in the ribbon cutting for Ollie’s newest location in Dearborn Heights. Below: Guests were treated to a buffet of authentic Lebanese cuisine. PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab

He continued mastering his recipes by working at Middle Eastern restaurants in Metro Detroit. In 2007, he saw an opportunity to open up a restaurant in Dearborn. In a City flooded with a large number of Middle Eastern restaurants, Hojaij says he knew he had to work extra hard to stand out from the rest.

“What makes me different from other restaurants is that I really care about my customers and they acknowledge me for that. I cook with love and I teach my employees to give love,” Hojaij says. “We give love to every dish that comes out of the kitchen and this is what made me successful.”

But the success didn’t stop there. Before Hojaij had become a restaurant owner, he had been a chef at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Troy. There, he picked up on the fact that Arabic food had become increasingly popular with non-Arab residents as well. In 2011, he made his first steps into expanding his brand by opening up a second location in Sterling Heights.

Today, he says his restaurants attract a diverse crowd of customers who keep coming back for more of his famous fattoush, hummus, shish kabob and fresh baked bread.

“A good Middle Eastern restaurant can succeed in any area. Americans are always looking for healthy and fresh food. When you combine that with a nice, cleanly atmosphere, and serve quality food with good customer service, you have a winner.”

Now a husband and father of four, Hojaij is always staying busy. He says it is important to continue providing customers with an authentic experience, even as his business continues to grow. On a daily basis, he’s still preparing food for his restaurants and continues to train his staff to follow his exact recipes.

Hojaij hopes to continue expanding his brand with more locations in the near future. In the meantime, he wants to make sure all three of his locations continue to operate smoothly. 

Each restaurant offers a fresh juice and smoothie bar, specialty catering, take-out and a banquet room for larger sized parties, which could be appealing for engagements, wedding rehearsals or business meetings.

“As long as my customers are happy, I will continue to be satisfied. I’m not stopping right here. I’m going to keep going,” Hojaij adds.