Yemeni man to offer flavors from around the world at new downtown Ypsilanti restaurant

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10 N. Adams St. in Ypsilanti will soon house a new restaurant.

(Photo Courtesy of Brian Robb)

Yemeni-born Mohammed Fayad is opening a restaurant in a downtown Ypsilanti space that sat vacant for at least 30 years.

But he says his Yemeni heritage will only be part of the equation at Sizzles Burgers and Subs. Fayad traveled all over the world for work in recent years, and he intends to include elements of his favorite foods from between Mexico and Yemen in the menu.

"I got to taste a lot of food around the U.S. and other parts of the world so that's what's driving it around here," Fayad said. "I have different tastes, but the quality has to be at a certain point and taste level."

As for specifics, Fayad is opting not to discuss much for fear that competitors will steal his recipes. For example, he would only say the spices going into his beef tips dish - a house specialty - are "Mediterranean."

But he did reveal that the Sizzles menu will include twists on burgers, subs, wraps and salads. He also plans to offer a range of of "sizzled items" that are similar to stir fries, and all the salads and meats will be fresh, he stressed.

Fayad added that he's designing a menu that will appeal to students.

"It will provide quick service for college kids and people in the area," he said.

No opening date is targeted, but Fayad said he's eager to get the restaurant open. He added that he'll offer a limited menu at first and expand it once Sizzles is established.

Fayad was born in Yemen but raised in the US, and he discovered Ypsilanti when visiting friends as a teenager. He purchased the building, at 10 N. Adams St., for $82,000 from Jim Pate last month. Pate also used to own the Smith Furniture building, and, like the 10 N. Adams property, the Smith sat unused and deteriorating while Pate owned it. The interior has already been demolished and Fayad replaced the roof.

City records show the property was on the city's dangerous buildings list, and Pate was cited eleven times for code violations in 2013 and 2014.

Records also show the property's assessed value at $34,000, and Pate purchased the building in 1974 for $30,000.

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