“I’ve been coming here since it opened,” Montrose resident Alicia Campos said. “It has a little bit of everything.”That applies to its stock of convenience store finds as well as its kitchen, which has become the main draw, serving up Mediterranean, Tex-Mex and American fare, ranging from falafel to cheeseburgers, General Manager Moe Elsaadi said.
“It’s just real good food. We cook everything from scratch,” he said.
The kitchen’s solid Mediterranean options have earned it one of the slots in the upcoming Railway Heights development, which will allow Moe to build the business, he said.
After a few stints running some clothing stores, Moe’s father, Toufic Elsaadi, bought the convenience store in 1990 and slowly began building a kitchen. He incorporated Palestinian family recipes and tinkered with items to suit their customers, Moe said.
The store attracted attention for its falafel and gyro plates, he said, as well its reputation for always being open—even on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, popular days for takeout as well as for large catering orders.
“In fact, those are some of our busiest days,” Moe said.
Al Quick Stop has a mix of regulars such as Campos as well as a constant stream of takeout orders, he said, but there are always customers who are surprised when they first walk in.
“It’s cliche to say it, but don’t judge a book by its cover,” he said. “We’re not just some corner store.”
Its open-every-day reputation has endured several hurricanes, including Harvey, selling out most of its inventory and kitchen supplies.
“It was crazy. My dad must have slept here for two or three days,” Moe said. “But that’s what we want to be; we want to be here for our community.”
Al Quick Stop
2002 Waugh Drive, Houston
713-522-5170
www.alquickstop.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 8 a.m.-midnight
