"God is everywhere," Hassan Cheaib, 81, said as he stood in the road for a photograph near his home in Toledo's North End. Mr. Cheaib is a vocal advocate of the neighborhood. He emigrated from Lebanon to Dearborn, Mich., in 1961 and then moved to Toledo the following year. Many members of his extended family followed him to America, settling in North Toledo, where the neighborhood was locally known as Little Syria. In the years since, the area has changed from a majority Arab neighborhood to a more diverse community as many of the Middle Eastern immigrants have left for the Toledo suburbs. Mr. Cheaib remains. He continues to be a proponent of the neighborhood and its residents. "I'm still here in North End and I love North End," he said.
Hassan Cheaib, 81, cooks breakfast in his home in Toledo's North End. My Cheaib, who is proud to own his home outright, says the neighborhood's low cost of living is a plus. His wife, Khadije, posts Qur'anic Arabic verses throughout their house.
Radi Cheaib, 22, peers outside from his bedroom window. Radi grew up in Toledo's North End and despite an upbringing different than that of his cousins and extended family in the suburbs, he says he loves the neighborhood. He continues to live with his parents, Hassan and Khadije, at their home a few blocks away from the family carry-out store in North Toledo.
Radi Cheaib drives through Toledo's North End near the carry-out his parents own. Though he has been jumped in the neighborhood, he says he's happy to keep living there. Because his father Hassan is elderly Radi often provides transportation.
Hassan Cheaib, 81, pauses as he heads in to the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, located in Perrysburg, for the mosque's International Festival in August, 2014. Hassan emigrated from Lebanon in 1961 and helped pave the way for his immediate and extended family to follow him over in subsequent years. Many members of his family settled in North Toledo, where a few remain today. Locally known as Little Syria, the area has changed from a majority Arab neighborhood to a more diverse community as many of the Middle Eastern immigrants moved to the Toledo suburbs. Mr. Cheaib has remained. He continues to be a proponent of the neighborhood and its residents. Though he doesn't regularly attend prayers, the mosque's International Festival provides an opportunity for Mr. Cheaib to spend time with extended members of the local Muslim community, many of whom now live in communities surrounding Toledo.
Hassan Cheaib, 81, center, spent his afternoon being greeted by members of the local Muslim community during the 2014 International Festival at the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo in Perrysburg. Though he doesn't regularly attend prayers, the mosque's International Festival provides an opportunity for Mr. Cheaib to spend time with extended members of the local community, many of whom now live in areas surrounding Toledo rather than the old neighborhood where Mr. Cheaib continues to reside.
Radi Cheaib, left, listens as his father Hassan, 81, center, talks with their neighbor Kenneth Berry, right, about the perils of smoking outside Bush Carry Out in Toledo's North End. Hassan owns the carry-out, where he often spends time talking with neighbors who come in to buy food and candy from his store.
Customer Teresa Flores, a lifelong resident of the North End, left, laughs as she jokes with Hassan Cheaib, 81, as they share the lunch his wife Khadije brought to the Cheaib's carry-out store. Ms. Flores said she often goes out of her way to stop by the store and visit with Hassan and Khadije. "These are the best people," she said.
Toufic Awada, 81, center, greets his cousin Hassan Cheaib, right, at his home in Toledo's North End. Mr. Awada said he left Lebanon because of its conflicts. He now lives next door to Mr. Cheaib, with both families counting themselves as two of the very few remaining Arab families in the neighborhood area of North Toledo that was once known as Little Syria.
Hassan Cheaib, 81, right, sells glow sticks along Summit Street as he makes his way toward The Blade's 2015 Red, White, KABOOM Independence Day event at International Park in East Toledo on Saturday, July 4, 2015. As a child, Mr. Cheaib worked as a street vendor in Lebanon to help support his family after the death of his father. In addition to managing his store in Toledo's North End, he continues to work as a street vendor for special events.
Hassan Cheaib, 81, sells balloons and glow sticks Saturday, July 4, 2015, during The Blade's 2015 Red, White, KABOOM Independence Day event at International Park in East Toledo. As a child, Mr. Cheaib worked as a street vendor in Lebanon to help support his family after the death of his father. In addition to managing his store in Toledo's North End, he continues to work as a street vendor for special events. "I love Lebanon and I love Toledo!" He said.
Hassan Cheaib, 81, waits for customers on a warm day in the late summer of 2014 inside his shop in Toledo's North End. Mr. Cheaib has been a resident of North Toledo since the 1960's. He doesn't carry beer or wine at his shop, so many of his customers come only to pick up candy and a few other staples.