Aladdin Cafe turns off its magic lamp

Ahmad Alkiteb and his hookah get the hook. Over at 2594 South Colorado Boulevard, Aladdin Café (and grill and hookah bar) has gone dark. Trying to find out when and why, I called all the numbers I had for the place, which I'd reviewed -- and liked -- back in...

By Patricia Calhoun

September 16, 2008

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Ahmad Alkiteb and his hookah get the hook.

Over at 2594 South Colorado Boulevard, Aladdin Café (and grill and hookah bar) has gone dark. Trying to find out when and why, I called all the numbers I had for the place, which I'd reviewed -- and liked -- back in February 2007. While the main number was simply disconnected, the former take-out and catering number rang through to a very nice man named Rich, who told me he’d had this number for about a month or so.

Rich doesn’t have anything to do with Aladdin’s, but he's gotten enough calls from people looking for foule, tabouleh and schwarma that he decided to investigate a little himself. “I went looking for the place,” he told me, “and I couldn’t find it. I figure they must’ve been closed for a while.”

So far, I haven't had any luck convincing Rich to open his own Middle Eastern restaurant. Too bad, because it sounds like he already has a good customer base. -- Jason Sheehan

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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