Dinku Tadesse becomes misty eyed when he talks about the support Yellowknife has shown his restaurant.
He and his wife Eline Baye opened Zehabesha Traditional Ethiopian Food restaurant six years ago and he wants the community to know, thanks to their loyalty, the restaurant is SA国际影视传媒渘ot going anywhere.SA国际影视传媒�
When they first closed their doors in March, Tadesse said they were fielding constant calls and Facebook messages from Yellowknifers expressing worry for them and asking if they would have to close for good.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat kind of encouragement gives us homework to stay in business,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Tadesse recalls one instance where a Zehabesha regular customer came to the restaurant and handed him an envelope after paying for her meal.
SA国际影视传媒淚 still feel something when I remember that day,SA国际影视传媒� he said, tearing up.
On the back of the envelope was written, SA国际影视传媒淭hank you for everything that you do for Yellowknife and us.SA国际影视传媒�
Tadesse said he assumed it was a thank you note or maybe that the patron was going to be leaving town and wanted to say goodbye in a letter.
When he and Baye later opened the envelope, there was $400 inside.
For now, the eight $50 bills will stay in the envelope SA国际影视传媒渢o remember,SA国际影视传媒� though Tadesse is not yet sure what they will do with the gift.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are not taking that money.SA国际影视传媒�
On a separate occasion, Tadesse recounts a man coming in and paying for two vegetarian meals SA国际影视传媒� a cost of $50 SA国际影视传媒� with a $200 tip.
Tadesse said itSA国际影视传媒檚 acts of generosity like these that cement his commitment to the community.
Friday marks ZehabeshaSA国际影视传媒檚 sixth year since opening.
ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 six years of working 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. close.
Before opening the restaurant, Baye and Tadesse worked various labour jobs around town.
Tadesse recalls splitting his days between Javaroma and the grocery store bakery before eventually becoming a taxi driver.
Baye worked as a housekeeper at a hotel.
When Baye came to Canada in 2012, two years after Tadesse, she left behind her familySA国际影视传媒檚 five-star restaurant in Ethiopia. Baye grew up learning to master injera, curries, and stews, dishes now enjoyed by patrons at their Yellowknife eatery.
Yellowknifers are not the only ones benefitting from BayeSA国际影视传媒檚 cooking skills, however.
Displayed on the back wall of the restaurant, Tadesse proudly gestures toward a collage of articles touting Zehabesha as Northwest Territories' SA国际影视传媒渕ust-trySA国际影视传媒� from publications around the globe.
ZehabeshaSA国际影视传媒檚 cuisine is further recognized by its Trip Advisor awards. For the second consecutive year, the Ethiopian restaurant has won the Trip Advisor Travellers Choice award.
The distinction is on top of a five years run of earning a Trip Advisor SA国际影视传媒渃ertificate of excellence.SA国际影视传媒�
Tadesse holds the plaque with pride.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey love our food, and we just want to tell Yellowknife thank you very much.SA国际影视传媒�
After closing in March, Zehabesha reopened in May for takeout only. In June, the owners began once again serving patrons in the restaurant at a reduced capacity of 25 people. For the foreseeable future, Tadesse said Zehabesha is SA国际影视传媒渨ith the community.SA国际影视传媒� Though down the road, SA国际影视传媒渙nly god knows.SA国际影视传媒�
He admits owning a business can be scary at times, but said if things go wrong he can always go back to driving a cab.
In six years of business, Tadesse said his most critical takeaway has been the power of working hard and practising kindness.
SA国际影视传媒淓ven if the customer isnSA国际影视传媒檛 happy when he walks in,SA国际影视传媒� he said, SA国际影视传媒測ou do your best to make him happy when heSA国际影视传媒檚 inside. If you do the right thing, if you respect the people, if you worry about the people, you're going to get back more."
