03/14/2026
In 1986, a man arrived in New York with nothing. Lost, freezing, and with nowhere to go, he spent his first night in America sleeping in the hallway of a building. That moment stayed with him for decades.
Today, he owns Ali Baba Restaurant, a Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant in Manhattan. When winter temperatures dropped to dangerous levels, a simple sign appeared in the window:
"Anyone staying outside can stay inside. Heat is on for overnight."
Below it was another message: “We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is awake.”
For the owner, opening his doors wasn’t about publicity—it was about remembering where he started. The restaurant also offers free meals every Wednesday to people experiencing homelessness.
Because sometimes the greatest kindness comes from someone who never forgot what it felt like to need it most. 🤍
