A sign inside Saad’s Halal restaurant.

The fasting month of Ramadan began on Sunday evening, and this is a reminder that some local businesses will be closed or have limited hours during this month.

As usual, Saad’s Halal (45th and Walnut) will be closed during the month and will reopen on June 8th.

Manakeesh Cafe and Bakery across the street will be closed during the day for the month of Ramadan (until June 4th). It will be open in the evening from 7:30 p.m. for order pickup and for dinner from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. It’s also accepting iftar catering orders during this month (please email manakeesh@gmail.com).

The holy month of Ramadan begins this week, and here’s what’s happening at two popular Muslim-owned businesses.

Saad’s Halal at 45th and Walnut will be closed for a little over a month while the owners take their annual vacation. The restaurant closed its doors on May 14 and will reopen on Monday, June 18, according to a sign posted on the window (see photo).

Manakeesh, the Lebanese cafe and bakery across the street from Saad’s, will have special hours until June 16. The restaurant will be closed during the day, but open nightly – from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.. Check out their Facebook page for updates.

A quick scan of the vote totals at precincts in West Philly make it clear that this decidedly not Trump country. Another indication is a few things dropped off this week at Manakeesh, the Lebanese restaurant and bakery at 45th and Walnut.

Manakeesh posted pictures on its Facebook page yesterday of flowers and notes dropped off since Tuesday’s election. In response to the pictures of swastikas and hateful graffiti being passed around, we think it’s appropriate to show expressions of love and solidarity.  Continue Reading

Now we know what’s happening in the empty space adjacent to Manakeesh Cafe Bakery at 45th and Walnut. The Bliss Juices and Ice Cream bar is scheduled to open this summer, according to manager Abd Ghazzawi.

Manakeesh has fairly quickly become an anchor neighborhood business. It opened in January 2011 after months of renovation on the old bank building. Folks in the neighborhood had been speculating for some time on what Manakeesh would do with the other half of its building.

The exact opening date of Bliss has not been set, but Ghazzawi says it will probably be in early July. In addition to ice cream and freshly squeezed juices, the menu will include Lebanese fruit cocktails, breakfast items like crepes and waffles, Granita, and a few other things. Stay tuned for more information on the opening.

We just heard through the grapevine (aka Facebook) that Manakeesh, the Lebanese cafe and bakery at 45th and Walnut, will soon start delivery.

Yep, now you can get those great manakeesh, baklava etc. brought straight to your front door Monday through Thursday from Noon to 7 p.m. The service starts tomorrow and is available to those within a 10-block radius of the shop.

Here are two fun West Philly things to keep an eye out for in a couple of weeks.

First, Mariposa Food Co-op will hold a giant craft fair and flea market in the new building at 4824 Baltimore Ave. on February 12 and 13. The building isn’t officially open yet, but this will give folks an opportunity to get a sneak preview ahead of the fall 2011 official opening. This shindig will feature jewelry, baked goods, handcrafted items, clothes, books and much more. See the flyer below.

On February 21 Manakeesh, the new Lebanese cafe and bakery at 45th and Walnut, plans to celebrate its official grand opening with a party that will include free giveaways and all sorts of goodies. The party will run during regular business hours.