From refugee to restaurateur

Friday, Jun. 24, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — Eleven years ago, Ehsan Suhail had a comfortable life. He was an electrical engineering student at the University of Baghdad. He had family, friends and dreams for the future.

Then he became a refugee. His father was killed, and “after that I saw myself responsible for seven people,” his mother, five siblings and himself, he said. “To change your life 100 percent is not easy. You’ve left your country, your home, your friends, your school, your whole life, your everything.”

The family fled to Syria. Then, seven years ago, they were accepted into the United States. 

“CCS (Catholic Community Services) was the first people to welcome me to Utah,” he said. “They helped me to find a job.” 

In addition to greeting the family at the airport, CCS provided them with a place to live, pocket money and rent for six months, and helped with all the paperwork necessary to start a new life in the United States.

The hardest part was finding opportunity, he said; he also faced some hatred because of being a refugee.

Suhail considered returning to his electrical engineering studies, but after working two years for an employer, he started his own restaurant, and now operates two locations of Shawarma King. He also has gotten married and has an 18-month-old daughter.

“I’m crazy about her,” he said. “We’re doing great now. I’m very happy about seeing my company successful. … Now all I’m thinking about is business, how to get more restaurants. … I can say I am one of the examples of the refugees. We need to give more opportunities to the refugees, and we need more help.”