Bedford Entrepreneur Shaken After Business Broken Into, House Vandalized
HALIFAX – In 2016, Samer Aljokhada arrived in Halifax after he and his family spent years in a refugee camp. Samer had to flee his home country of Syria due to the war. Before the war, he was a successful businessman, but the armed conflict took his livelihood away.
“We had a horrible time in 2011 in Syria because of the war…Before 2011 I had my own shop and my own factory,” explained Samer.
“We lost everything in the war.”
Between 2016 and 2020 Samer’s family was able to experience security and peace while living in Halifax.
In 2019, Samer, along with a business partner, opened Booza Emessa, a traditional Syrian ice cream shop in Bedford. Samer has been involved in the Syrian ice cream business since he was a boy. The restaurant’s unique, chewy ice cream quickly became a hit and received a lot of support from the community.
“The community, especially in Bedford, all of them supported us and they came with long lines to us to support our business,” said Samer.
“(The city) was perfect for us, especially when you compare it to the camps in Jordan. We feel very safe, we feel better about education, and we had a warm welcome from the community. Everything became better for us.”
But this past weekend, two incidents would make them feel unsafe and shaken. First, on the morning of October 3, it was discovered that Booza Emessa was broken into and vandalized. Booza Emessa’s neighbouring business, Grill Way & Catering was also broken into the same night. Grill Way is also owned by a Syrian Refugee, Wasel Al Masalmeh.
On top of the physical damage done to the ice cream shop during the break-in, various expensive items were stolen. According to Samer, cash, a television, an iPad and a cellphone were taken. Samer hasn’t been able to calculate yet the dollar value of the stolen items and property damage.
The next night, Samer, along with his wife and five children, were shaken once more when someone broke a window in their Spryfield home with a rock.
“After midnight, somebody threw a big stone through my family’s window and they broke the glass in the kitchen window,” recalled Samer.
“Since (that night) I didn’t sleep… My kids, they’re feeling not safe right now. They keep themselves at home.”
Samer doesn’t know if the two incidents are related, or just a terrible coincidence. He also doesn’t want to ponder the possibility that he is being targeted because of his race or nationality.
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to judge about this situation,” said Samer. “Maybe it’s a separate problem, but it could be the same, also. I don’t know.”
“I don’t like this idea (of being targeted), because it’s scary for me. So hopefully (the break-in) was just for money.”
If there is a silver lining to these horrible incidents, it’s the outpouring of support Samer and Booza Emessa have received since the break-in. Customers and Bedford residents have flocked to Facebook with kind words and positive reviews for the business.
Booza Emessa had to close down for a day following the break-in. But when they opened back up, the customers lined up to show their support.
“They give us a lot of love and support. Actually, they make me cry,” said Samer.
“Some of them buy ice cream for four dollars and give $20…I have no words to speak to my community in Halifax. They’re all good (people).”
The Halifax Regional police put out a press release saying the break-ins at the two businesses are being investigated.
“A significant amount of food product and other items were taken during the incidents. Members of the Integrated General Investigation Section are investigating,” reads the press release. “Investigators will attempt to determine if these incidents are related to any recent similar incidents.”