(haipo) - Hummus Faraj, a Haifa institution, is closing its doors. The Najjar family decided to close the old hummus, after 55 years of activity on Maginim Street and another 35 years at the house in Wadi Nisnas (about 90 years in total).
Faraj Nager: It was heartbreaking to close the place
"The restaurant used to be a locksmith," says Faraj Najer (75 years old), who has owned the restaurant since it opened, "In the 70s, I rented the place, where today the Abu Shaker restaurant is located on Mahginim Street. I started working there. From the beginning we sold Hummus, falafel and Cuba. We were there for 9 years. The municipality gave me problems and I moved to where I am now, Peraj. My son told me he was fed up. They offered me to make my hummus at a restaurant near Star and that's what I intend to do."
"People would come from all over Haifa and all over the country to eat our hummus. It was heartbreaking to close the place. My clientele are good people. Every morning I came to the restaurant at 4:45 and I would stay until closing, at 17 pm. In the past we would stay until 18-19 pm" .
Amir Najjar: From the age of 5-6 I grew up between the pots and the tables, I can't believe it's over
"The hummus was opened for the first time 90 years ago in 1933 in Wadi by Adib Najer, who was a well-known and old Christian family in Haifa," says Amir (48 years old), Faraj's son, "It was the first hummus in the Wadi Nissanans neighborhood. Adib decided to call the place about His son's name, even before the son was born, and when his son was born he called him Faraj. Our branch was opened 55 years ago by my father in 1968. I started working at the humusiya at the age of 18, today I am 48 years old.
Debts, fines for signage and parking problems: For 30 years we have been making the best hummus there is. Since the corona we have debts. We have high property tax costs and taxes. In addition, the municipality does not allow our customers to park. Paint the sidewalks red and white in front of the restaurant and you can't park. They demand a high signage tax from us. I feel like a slave. I haven't gone on vacation since 2009.
Two weeks ago I slipped in the warehouse and did not go to the doctor, because there is no one to replace me. Because I love the customers, I give my recipe for hummus as a gift to the Star restaurant, which is 30 meters from me. My father will go make the hummus and tahini for them. I don't remember a single Saturday when I went off. I want to treat myself medically and I hope to return in the near future. I love all my clients one by one. I want to thank all the customers and suppliers."
We are suffocating
"I grew up here next to the pots. When I was 5-6 years old, I would walk here between the tables and the pots," recounts Amir painfully, "We are 4 generations here, my son works here on Saturdays. The municipality and the state do not help us work with pleasure, we pay property taxes and taxes, and feel that we We are suffocating. I already prefer to be an employee. We have not had one case of stomach poisoning, we give everything for the customer. It is very difficult."
Amir wrote on Facebook that it is with teary eyes and a heavy heart that he announces the closing of Hummus Faraj in Haifa. "I want to thank all the customers, a large part of whom have become family. I am Amir and father Faraj, we truly love each and every one of you. After 55 years in the same place on Sderot Maginim 29 and another 35 years before that in my grandfather's house in Wadi Nisnas. Together it is 90 A year of giving, love and hard work. Not an easy decision, but a necessary one. The good news is that we gave the famous Faraj hummus, tahini, pul, hexagon and cube recipe, many of whom know their special and delicious taste, to the Star restaurant, which is 30 meters from Faraj Hummus."
In response to the post, many wrote that they were shocked that such a Haifa institution was closed. People wrote that they come every Saturday to eat the famous hummus and enjoy the good service and they can't believe that this period is over.
Sad to hear one of the best hummus restaurants in Haifa. Really an excellent culinary loss
I am an old customer and I am sad
The last time we ate there we had dead flies in our dishes….
I quietly went to the guy in charge and told him there were dead flies in the hummus...
He got angry and started shouting that it was flies from outside because I was sitting outside...
The flies were dead inside the dish….
In short, I wouldn't go back even if it stayed open.
He had good years but for many years now he has not been successful at all where he is and where Hummus is in the Galilee.
sucks I really liked the place, the food and the service. Too bad
sucks I really liked the place, the food and the service
To be self-employed in the State of Israel is to pay 50 percent tax from the first shekel that enters the coffers, and it is quite easy to calculate 17% of the income tax and 83%, leaving 20% of the income tax and 18% of the national insurance and health tax. On top of that, you will add collaterals that require it to be a clearing house, property tax, signage tax, sometimes they report that the municipality eats carrion. An accountant of course because something has to be reported to the state. In the end, maybe 40 percent remains with the independents. And now we'll see you sick. Or an injury and Hope is gone this year. We are the slaves, the cash register of the state, transparent with no rights, only duties. 🥴
It's always sad to hear about the closing of a favorite place!
We wish you continued work and success!
Dear man, Poppy, lots of health, love you
He does not forget to take hummus to the border for the soldiers during the Second Lebanon War
It's a shame and sad that one of the symbols of Haifa has closed
The cost of living and the cost of taxes and the damage of the anarchist left on tourism to Israel - are going to lead to the closing of thousands of restaurants all over the country.
The public eats less in restaurants and if they sit in restaurants they order smaller amounts. People operate literally underground clubs, restaurants and cafes from houses, from private gardens and rooftops to avoid protection payments and business taxes. All businesses suffer but large restaurants will go bankrupt this year double than previous years.
The damage of the anarchist left in tourism? How exactly?
If I were a foreign resident who landed in Tel Aviv on a sunny weekday expecting to vacation on the beaches of Tel Aviv - and I encountered a lynching by "demonstrators" there, I would never return here in my life, not even in my dreams.
Thank you for the tastiest hummus in Haifa. I would be happy to order shipments from you.
Great place, great service and wonderful hummus
Remember the Sabbath. For six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall sabbath and live
What next? Who to move to?
But a trending and false article. This has nothing to do with Corona or the last few years,
This is about non-payment of fees or debt settlement of decades.
Dear Michal, there is such a concept in the press, to find out and examine the context of the event you are writing about.
Come on, maybe try. 🙂
Apparently you can't live off hummus.
And here is another independent who is suffocating and raising his hands, good on you for a tyrannical state and a predatory municipality, you all gobble up limitless hogwash and in the end people are broken and we the citizens lose again...
Hey Farge, a little responsibility, what will millions pay the bullies now?!
All authorities should let go of the small food businesses because the work is sizzling, there are no profits, it's not what it used to be, the wheel has turned, every employee earns more. The formula is impossible
Prague.
Thanks for years of good hummus!
respect!'
It is very sad that the municipality forbade businesses in Haifa instead of promoting them. What a shame for the mayor who does not think about the residents. sad