Mini-Mart Owner: Again, We’re Not A Smoke Shop

by Dereen Shirnekhi

Abdulwasea Ayedh wants New Haveners to know something about his new Chapel Street mini-mart, Mt. Arafat: “We’re not a smoke shop.”

While the store does sell vapes, cigarettes, and cigar wrappers, Ayedh said that if the place were a smoke shop, “there would be glass bongs everywhere.”

The Independent first reported on the new storefront at Orange and Chapel streets on Sept. 16. Ayedh, who asked not to be photographed, said that the manager the Independent had spoken to for that story had just been filling in for him for the day. As of Monday, Mt. Arafat had added a sign, gotten its coffee bar up and begun selling sandwiches as promised — though when this reporter stopped by around 1 p.m., they were out. 

“People come and they leave with a dozen eggs,” said Ayedh, pointing to a section of the store’s refrigerated section that included egg cartons and gallons of milk. He also pointed out brooms, pet food, charcoal for grilling, and loaves of bread. The store also includes the typical convenience store findings — candy, soda, beef jerky, Tampax. Ayedh said that he had just placed an order for a F’Real machine, which allows customers to make their own milkshakes and smoothies. 

Ayedh said that he still doesn’t consider the store to be officially open. He’s still waiting for lighting and décor from Turkey (“luckily I bought this stuff before the tariffs”) and for his approval to take Food Stamps and sell lottery tickets. He said the store is “slowly progressing.” 

Vapes … … but also, cartons of eggs and gallons of milk.

Ayedh said that he acquired the space, a former dentist’s office, on Aug. 1, 2024. He detailed a difficult path to opening. He said the entire business cost him $415,000, his rent is around $8,000 per month, and he pays around $1,100 in utilities per month. He said that he had to acquire a series of permits in order to open: “The city wants to shut me down before I start based on what they think I want to do” — open a smoke shop, according to him.

City spokesperson Lenny Speiller said that “there were no deviations from the City’s standard permitting and licensure requirements and processes” in regard to Mt. Arafat. Speiller confirmed that the Building Department approved their permits for fit-out, electrical, plumbing, and signage. “This building was a change of use from business to mercantile.”

Speiller also said that the Health Department approved their 2025-2026 food service license, which required sign off from the Building Department, City Plan Department, Fire Marshal, and  Water Pollution Control Authority.  “The Health Department also conducted a pre-operational inspection to ensure compliance with the 2022 FDA Food Code.”

“Mount Arafat Express also submitted their Tobacco and Smoking Product Retailer License Application to the Health Department,” Speiller said.

“I went through hell,” Ayedh said. “I couldn’t afford to stay closed.” When he received clearance to open, he did, so profits could go back into the store.

So why was opening the store worth it to him? 

“This is a good downtown,” Ayedh said. “Everyone comes into downtown.” 

He also wanted to own a store in the state where he lives. He’s been living in Monroe for four years, though he used to live in Westchester County, N.Y., where he still owns a store named Hill Top Deli and Grill.

Ayedh’s brother is also hoping to open a new coffee shop next door at 808 Chapel St. The plan is to open a new Jabal location — a Yemeni cafe with locations in Michigan and Canada, plus 11 more to come across the country, according to their website. 

So, despite the difficulty it took to open, “I’m surprised, we’re doing well,” Ayedh said. “People are really happy we’re here.” 

Ayedh hopes to have a formal grand opening in the future.

Nextdoor at 808 Chapel, where a new cafe might be moving in.