Today we’d like to introduce you to Javeed and Sura Hasan.
In the late 1970s, as a young teenager, Javeed immigrated to Chicago with the hopes of pursuing the American Dream. As a young teenager, he was unsure of what road he would take to achieve this dream he envisioned. However, as he grew older, he realized the means of achieving his dreams was through his true passion for being an entrepreneur.
In 1989, he opened the doors to his first business, JK Grocers, a small Indian and Pakistani grocery store on Devon Ave., in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. As his business flourished, he believed the next step in helping him achieve the American dream he envisioned would be to open an Indian and Pakistani restaurant. In 1998, he and his brother opened the doors to JK Kabab House, on Devon Avenue, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, half a block from JK Grocers.
Over the years, JK Grocers and JK Kabab House became a staple in the Indian and Pakistani community that is ever so prevalent on Devon Avenue. In 2015, he set his sights on the suburbs of Chicago to expand his restaurant business. He realized the surrounding suburbs had a large and growing population of individuals from Indian and Pakistani descent. However, he came to the realization that these same suburbs lacked Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Those seeking such cuisine were required to drive over 45 minutes to Devon Avenue.
In 2016, Javeed, his son, and daughter opened the doors to JK Kabab’s second location in Naperville, IL. Today, his daughter, Sura, is learning the family business from him at the Naperville location.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road was far from easy. There were many obstacles to overcome and sacrifices that were necessary. Initially, when I began JK Grocers, I knew nothing about the grocery business, including Indian and Pakistani groceries. The learning curve was steep and I had to overcome this by putting in many hours of on the job training, remember this is an era before smartphones and Google. Then there was the issue of startup capital, I had little to no investment capital and gambled on myself and work ethic. This was all happening while I was starting a family. The other obstacle, that many people are unaware of, is the amount of hours you are required to put into a business to see it grow and flourish. Ultimately, this took time away from my social life and more importantly my family. However, due to a supporting wife and family, I was able to overcome these obstacles.
History tends to repeat itself and did so again when I opened JK Kabab House. I knew nothing about the Indian and Pakistani restaurant business. I just had a vision for what I wanted to achieve and accomplish and was able to do so with the help of my brother. At first, JK Kabab House had a slow start and eventually gained a loyal following. As of today, JK Kabab has two locations and is operating successfully. This is all due to the wonderful customers I have and their love for our food.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with JK Kabab – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a family owned and operated business, JK Kabab opened its doors on the foundation to treat all of our customers like family and offer fresh Indian and Pakistani cuisine.
Our promise is to provide all of our customers with a deliciously health-conscious variety of Indian and Pakistani cuisine, made fresh to order every time! All our food is prepared by using fresh and natural ingredients.
JK Kabab offers appetizing Indian and Pakistani dishes prepared from the grill and tava, as well as, more traditional Indian and Pakistani cuisine. We emphasize high-quality ingredients and make sure every order is made fresh, no heat lamps, no microwaves, no shortcuts! This ensures that our food is always fresh and tailored to the customer’s specific needs. Our menu offers a variety of meat and vegetarian options, including locally sourced lamb, beef, and chicken dishes. JK Kabab has set the bar for affordably priced and innovative Indian and Pakistani cuisine.
JK Kabab signature dishes include our Chilli Chicken and Chicken Tikka. We want to share our culture and traditions with our customers the best way we know how, through our food!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago is a true melting pot. It offers great food, architecture, and most importantly great people. Chicago offers people to experience cultures from all around the world, without having to leave Chicago. The only downside to this great city is the winter, but all the many benefits Chicago offers make up for the cold season.
Pricing:
- $6.99 Lunch Special (Monday through Friday)
Contact Info:
- Address: 572 Weston Ridge Dr., Suite 112, Naperville, IL 60563
- Website: www.jkkabab.com
- Phone: (630) 778-5555
- Email: Info@JKKabab.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jkkabab/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jkkabab/
- Twitter: twitter.com/jk_kabab
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/jk-kabab-naperville
- Other: www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g36422-d10698916-Reviews-JK_Kabab-Naperville_Illinois.html
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
