Help Restore the Stop N' Shop in South MPLS
Donation protected
The Zerka family tobacco store and gas station were broken into on two separate nights, first on the early morning of May 28, 2020 and later night of May 29, 2020, which led to the destruction of both stores. They helplessly watched their family business being destroyed by hundreds of individuals on live TV and through their security cameras. To see the place that has provided for their family for 22 years destroyed and burglarized on two separate occasions was extremely hard to watch. They are hoping to reopen, but they don’t know when that will be. They are continuing to discover damages made to the stores such as a fire that was started inside the office.
A brief history:
Halim immigrated to the United States in 1977 to escape the civil war in Lebanon. He opened Stop-N-Shop, a convenience store and gas station with his brother-in-law in 1998 and became its sole owner in 2013. Stop-N-Shop has serviced the South Minneapolis community for the past 22 years.
Halim was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a terminal illness, in November 2015 and he was no longer able to work in 2016. This is where his sons stepped in in order to keep the family business afloat and ultimately their parents’ livelihood. Anthony began to manage operations along with the store manager, Glenda, for one year before Joe stepped in full time. Joe paid himself minimum wage as his goal was to take care of his parents’ expenses due to his dad’s illness. He spent two years making upgrades to the business, such as adding new pumps, new gas tanks, as well as adding a separate tobacco store which was built in the same building next to the gas station in August 2018.
The people who know the Zerka family, know them for their passion for their community as well as their generosity. Those that care are the Zerkas now want to pay it back through helping them raise money to clean and restore the store and legacy that Halim started.
Update:
Due to the destruction done to the gas station and tobacco store, all funds will be used towards cleaning products, windows, doors, gates, shelving, security cameras, counter tops, registers, display cases, and other necessary items to properly operate. All use of funds will be documented and receipts provided.
A brief history:
Halim immigrated to the United States in 1977 to escape the civil war in Lebanon. He opened Stop-N-Shop, a convenience store and gas station with his brother-in-law in 1998 and became its sole owner in 2013. Stop-N-Shop has serviced the South Minneapolis community for the past 22 years.
Halim was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a terminal illness, in November 2015 and he was no longer able to work in 2016. This is where his sons stepped in in order to keep the family business afloat and ultimately their parents’ livelihood. Anthony began to manage operations along with the store manager, Glenda, for one year before Joe stepped in full time. Joe paid himself minimum wage as his goal was to take care of his parents’ expenses due to his dad’s illness. He spent two years making upgrades to the business, such as adding new pumps, new gas tanks, as well as adding a separate tobacco store which was built in the same building next to the gas station in August 2018.
The people who know the Zerka family, know them for their passion for their community as well as their generosity. Those that care are the Zerkas now want to pay it back through helping them raise money to clean and restore the store and legacy that Halim started.
Update:
Due to the destruction done to the gas station and tobacco store, all funds will be used towards cleaning products, windows, doors, gates, shelving, security cameras, counter tops, registers, display cases, and other necessary items to properly operate. All use of funds will be documented and receipts provided.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sherief Elabbady
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Joe Zerka
Beneficiary