Meet some of Williamsburg businesses who say they feel a sense of belonging, family in their community

The Williamsburg community has seen massive growth in recent years, which has broughta lot of diversity to the areaand the neighbourhood's businessesare no exception.

CBC Kitchener-Waterloo visited the community ofWilliamsburg as part of a Communities in Focus initiative, which launched in March. Reporters havebeen getting to know the area by speaking to residents, business owners and community leaders.

In the main plaza, you can find a lot of what you need like a grocery store, a vet clinic, a dollar store and even find services like a doctor's office,aninsurance company and a law clinic.

There's a lot of different kinds of foods to pick from too. You can find everything from bubble tea, sushi, pizza to Turkish food, shawarma, Indian and Portuguesefoods.There's also a pub on site that focuses more oneast coast style foods.

Many of the business owners and workersCBC K-W met spoke about a sense of belonging and family they feel within their community.

"I decided to come here because it's like a family all around and I wanted to be part of this family [with] all the neighbours andthe stores we have around,"Rosa Kahjadoiran, owner ofRosa's Tailoring and Dry Cleaners told CBCK-W.

Shivas DosaRestaurant

John Xeavaer has been the manager at Shivas DosaRestaurant for a little over a year. He said he use to run a restaurant in Texas before coming to Canada and is getting use to the different crowd in Williamsburg.

"It's a different place and we go with what the customers feel," he told CBC KW.

"Here, people are more friendly and I feel they're more friendly than Texas. Here, everyone come and in and go. I don't see people ... sit down and eat. They come in quick and go. They run, run, run."

Xeavaersaid the restaurant focuses more on South Indian foods, which are less creamy and more spicy. He said on weekends they serve specialty dishes and the restaurant is often busy.

They even see people come in from out of town for their food.

"I was really surprised. Wehad six guests who travelled from London to here. They like our food," he said.

Rosa's Tailoring and Dry Cleaners

RosaKahjadoiranhas been a tailor most of her life. She was a tailor in Armenia and wanted to own her own business when she came to Canada.

She said she always had a passion to work with clothes that started when she would make clothes for her daughter.

"She always wanted me to make her new clothes, something that they didn't have in the store," she said.

Kahjadoiranhas had her business in Williamsburg for 10 years with two other locations in Waterloo.

She said tailoring is still a skill that is needed. Most of her customers are people and familieswho live near by, as well a seniors who live at Schlegel Village across the road.

"Anything you buy, even from a store you need a little touch up with the length or the size," she said. "Prom season we are very busy with their gowns and also weddings."

She said every day is a different challenge and she likes to make her customers happy.

Shawarma Star

Shawarma Star has been part of the Williamsburg plaza family for seven years. Owner Ammar Gahzisaid he chose this locationfor its multiculturalism.

He describes the shawarmahe sells as a mix between Iraqi and Lebanese style shawarma. Gahzisaid he enjoys making connections with his customers and will often give them a sample of falafel while they wait.

He points to a TV in his restaurant that plays a slide show of the customers he's served over the years.

"I'm happy when I see a customer come into the store. I just want to give everything for free," he said. "That means I did a good job."

"When the customers come here I sometimes sit with them and chat with them. I love customers to be friends."

He says he has seen the Williamsburg community grow fast in the last seven years and believes it's a good thing.

"Seven years ago there was no one here," he said."All these people, they need services like food services."

Malt & Barley pub

Malt & Barley is celebrating its fifth year in Williamsburg. Ashley Shaw,marketing and social media coordinator for the Clan Gathering of Restaurants, which includes the Malt & Barley pub, said in that timethe restaurant has fostereda strong customer base.

"We really have a strong community and a great group of regular folks that come in," she told CBC K-W, addingone of those groupsis the local Liverpool Football Club who come in to watch the games.

Shaw said the pub also works to provide value to Williamsburgby having lots of events like live music, trivia and bingo during the week and providing an atmosphere for people to enjoy themselves.

With the growth the community has seen in the community, Shaw said the restaurant is regularly changing and adding new items to their menu.

"We're starting to incorporate more vegetarian features and responding to the needs of the community," she said.

Shaw added the community hasbeen a strong supporter of local businesses in the area.

"We opened up right when COVID was happening and all of the shut downs and I don't think we would have survived if it wasn't for the support of the community," she said.

The Puja Store

Just outside the Williamsburg plaza there is a unique South Asianstore that solely focuses on selling religious items and decorations for the East and South Asian community.

Shivangi Pathak opened The Puja Store in 2022 with her husband, Vaibhav Dixitafter noticing there was nostore locally that specifically sold these items.

She said she's happy her business is filling a need in the community since most of their customers have had to travel as far asBrampton and Toronto to buy religious items.

"Every month we have a festival ... and every festival is different in every way, so the items are different," she said.

She said there are a lot of different religions within the East and South Asian communities and they are learning from their customers about what items to add to the store.

"They'll ask, 'Do you have this?' and OK this is something new, we'll try to bring that. In my mind, we are going to open a one-stop-shop for all your religious items," she said.

With the growth of the South Asian community in the area, Shivangi said they are seeing their customer base grow too and are now looking to expand their business.