Cultures of Jackson: International Food Market
“I don’t want to live to be rich; I want to live to be satisfied.”
“I don’t want to live to be rich; I want to live to be satisfied.” These are the words of Alex Hanson, a Lebanese man who owns the International Food Market off of Hollywood Drive in Midtown. For the past nine years, Alex has been supplying Jackson with shelves of hard-to-find international ingredients as well as refreshing Middle Eastern and Greek cuisine. At first glance, the market/café combo may seem like just another hole-in-the-wall, but after watching the string of customers filtering in and out and chatting with the owner, it’s impossible to mistake this for any old grocery store. Alex and his family have created a community hub.
As we walked through the aisles, we were met with the delightful sights and smells of naan (bread), couscous, olive oil, hookah pipes, chai tea pots, dozens of spices, and more. Just when we had turned our attention to the menu on the wall, Alex ushered us into a booth and set a delicious, freshly-made gyro before us. (Needless to say, it didn’t stay on the plate for very long.) Curious about the ethnic variety all around us, we asked Alex about his customers. He began listing people from Jordan, Yemen, Palestine, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan, and India. “But most of my customers are American,” he said. And this gets to the heart of the International Food Market. Food is important in every culture; in fact, one could say that food is an expression of culture. This is certainly true for Alex, who has a passion for sharing his culture with the surrounding community through his food.
Alex came to the States when he was nineteen years old and began his studies at UT Martin. However, he was forced to give up his studies because of a family crisis and started working for Procter & Gamble Pringles Plant in Jackson, where he stayed for three years. “I worked with determination, because I was building a base, you know. A foundation to give me a start.” But he did not then know what that start would be.
Continuing with his story, “I have always loved to cook, but could not get the foods I wanted. I would have to go to Nashville.” One day he heard that there was in international food store in Jackson owned (at the time) by two families. “I came to this place one day, and they were closed. I came the next day, and the next, but they were always closed.” Eventually he learned that the owners wanted to permanently close the store, so he offered to buy it. A friend of his, who happened to be Greek and a great cook, taught him how to prepare the Greek food served in the café portion of the market. Meanwhile, our entrepreneur continued to work at the factory full-time, only working at the International Food Market part-time as he continued to learn the business from his friend. Three years later, the chef moved to a new location, and Alex took on the business full-time. “It was a risk, but the store was doing well.”
Over the years, Alex Hanson has become an integral part of the community. He emphasized to us that Jackson is his home. He knows the people here. He can walk down the street and recognize the businessmen and other community members. “I have been everywhere, but I like Jackson.”
“I have been everywhere, but I like Jackson.”
In our short time with Alex, we saw his passion for family, food, and the transformative power of community. Even though his family is spread across the world, they keep in touch and help each other. Some local relatives work at the store, and the familial atmosphere touches everyone who enters. Alex converses freely with his customers, many of whom pop in and out on what seems like a daily basis. Because of this hospitality, it is very easy to strike up a conversation with those who linger in the shop. It is refreshing to meet a businessman who is helping Jackson appreciate the wealth that comes in the form of community and culture. People like Alex are essential to the formation of a healthy, vibrant community that helps satisfy the human need for connection. “I don’t want to live to be rich; I want to live to be satisfied.” How often do we ask ourselves if we are living to be satisfied?
Kimberly Chavers is originally from Alabama but has lived all across the Southeast. Currently she is a student at Union University studying Intercultural Studies and Teaching English as a Second Language.
Originally from the Chicago area, Melissa Hardman came to Jackson to study Linguistics at Union University and plans to graduate in spring of 2016. She hopes to teach English or work with humanitarian aid organizations one day.
Photographer Amanda Rohde is an independent photographer and student at Union University. She enjoys cats, haunting thrift stores in search of 80's rock cassettes, spontaneous road trips, and making other people's lattes.
