Feltonville: Generosity is Stronger than Fear

Sultan Aldababseh greets every customer that comes into the store with a smile. He tries to talk to all the customers that come in. To many he speaks in Arabic, but to others he talks in his clear, accented English.


“I know all kinds of people. Spanish people, Arabic people,” Aldababseh said.


Sultan’s Food Market is one of the few places in Feltonville where people can buy fresh produce instead of going to Cousin’s Supermarket located on the corner of 5th Street and Luzerne Street.



Aldababseh sells the typical convenience store goods like canned goods and sweets, but he also sells hookah pipes, rugs, tapestries, fruits and vegetables.

“A lot of people do their shopping here,” Aldababseh said. “Prices are cheap that’s why they come here."

Although Aldababseh talks to all his customers and many seem to like him, he has had his problems in the area.

“It’s a tough area,” Aldababseh said. “It’s not safe."

Aldababseh has been robbed twice since he relocated his store three years ago. The first time was in 2006. He was closing his store at 10:30 p.m. when two guys came up to him and put a gun in his face. They stole his wallet, cell phone and credit cards.

The second robbery was a year later when he was opening his store. Four guys attacked him. He woke up with blood on his head and on the door without knowing what exactly happened to him.

Aldababseh plans to save enough money so that he can move his business to a safer area. He is having problems accomplishing this goal because of the economy.

“The past few years, there’s been no business,” Aldababseh said.


Most of his customers only buy candy and soda. Sometimes they even ask him for help with loans.
“People ask me for help. I can’t do it,” Aldababseh said.

Aldababseh says he does not help his customers yet he does undercharge one customer for a bag of grapes. He calls him one of his favorites. Later when a little girl comes in with her mother, she picks up a bag of candy and puts it on the counter. The mother tries to give it back, but Aldababseh hands her the candy and smiles, letting her have it for free.


Rebecca Hale and Patrick McCloskey, Group 22, Feltonville