Ayoub Hosseini, owner of Ayoubs Dried Fruits & Nuts, knows he must constantly be at the top of his game to survive, offering quality products at reasonable prices.
We wanted to provide something unique and have a store that people will walk by and say Wow, we want to go inside, he says while munching on pistachios that were roasted on-site the evening before.
Hosseini started his business in North Vancouver, where theres a strong Persian presence, but soon expanded by opening on Denman in the West End and Kitsilanos West 4th.
Traditional Persian architecture with elegant columns and chandeliers surround dried nuts from 20-plus countries, including almonds, sunflower seeds, cashews and pecans, which sit in intricately designed metal pots at the front of the store. The atmosphere, says Hoesseini, is one of the reasons customers first notice his shop.
We roast the nuts right here, so theyre really fresh. Other nuts are often roasted at least two months before, Ayoubs son Amir says, adding that the exact recipes are a family secret. We try to bring new products, like dried mulberries, that a lot of people havent tried. Theyre filled with antioxidants, says Amir, emphasizing they pick the most popular nuts and fruit sold at their store in Iran and fly them to BC overnight.
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