ECONOMICS & enterprise
ECONOMICS & enterprise Having a ball at Bella Banquet Hall PHOTO BY NORA BAHROU DOWNS BY JOYCE WISWELL When Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to clinch its first Asian Cup soccer championship back in July, the clubroom at Bella Banquet Hall in Warren exploded into pandemonium. “There were about 650 people here,” said co-owner Sohail (“Steve”) Dayimiya. “It was beyond standing room. People were banging on instruments and standing on top of the bar trying to see.” It’s usually a much more sedate crowd at the Bella club, where Chaldean men gather each night to eat Middle Eastern food, smoke the nargila, play chess and cards and watch sports on a big-screen TV. While the club is a popular spot with locals, the banquet hall itself draws people from all over Southeast Michigan, Dayimiya said. “The westside is the fastest growing part of our business,” he said. Opened in February 2006, Bella Banquet Hall recently changed hands and is now owned by Dayimiya and another partner who asked to remain anonymous. “I’m in the restaurant business and have managed my own properties,” Dayimiya said. “And I used to own an assisted living facility with two banquet halls.” Bella Banquet Center is by far the largest facility Dayimiya has owned. It sits on nearly six acres and encompasses almost 53,000 square feet. The sprawling ballroom handles 1,700 for a sit-down dinner and accommodated 2,500 for the grand opening celebration of St. Mary’s Assyrian Church right next door. More than Chaldeans and New co-owner Sohail Dayimiya in Bella's elegant pre-function space. Assyrians make up the clientele. “We have a lot of Albanians and Indians – and a lot of white folks,” Dayimiya said. Brides like to freshen up in the plush suite, complete with full bath, on the second floor. Couples often make their grand entrance on a balcony overlooking the pre-function area, which is adorned with Babylonian reliefs by ChaldoAssyrian artist Reni Stephan. Because everything is so new, the new owners don’t plan on making any sweeping changes. They do want to add a website and soften the grounds with landscaping. Part of Bella’s appeal is its reasonable banquet prices, which start at per person, including alcohol. Chef Sliwa Abro, formerly of the Eastern Palace, Ashtar and Tarboosh, offers up Middle Eastern, American and Albanian menus. “A lot of weddings are moving towards Middle Eastern food,” Dayimiya said. “Everyone is getting sick of steak and chicken.” America’s Best E.R. Doctors are in your Neighborhood. The Doctor will see you now. DMC 29 Minute E.R. Guarantee At DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital you’ll see one of America’s best doctors in 29 minutes or less. Guaranteed. And because we’ve earned some of the highest satisfaction ratings in the nation, you can rest assured that we’re ready to provide the care you need – close to home. Independent customer satisfaction surveys consistently rank us in the 90th percentile or higher in the categories that matter most to our patients including: Speed and accuracy of admitting process Waiting time for tests and procedures Time physicians spend with you Promptness of nurse response to calls DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital at Commerce and Commerce in Commerce. 1 William Carls Drive Commerce, MI 48382-2201 248-937-3300 www.hvsh.org 32 CHALDEAN NEWS OCTOBER 2007
OCTOBER 2007 CHALDEAN NEWS 33
