Making Sense of Shalimar SF Restaurant story ... San Francisco Bay Area ... Pakistani & Indian Cuisine

Indian Chatkhara, Fremont, California

The Shalimar Restaurant group is a 15 to 20 year old chain of Restuarants from the San Francisco Bay Area. Recently they've under gone a major re-org where one store has apparently been sold and a new store under a new brand opened. 

Recently, while trying to get a quick bite at Chatkhara Restaurant I was surprised to learn that this is essentially Shalimar.  

I inquired with the person in charge at Chatkhara on what's the deal with the new name. His reply, in Urdu was: "is key peechey kahani hai" -- meaning to say "there is a story behind this."

That said, Shalimar now has 5 entities:

2 in San Francisco branded as "Shalimar"

1 in Sunnyvale branded as "Shalimar"

1 in Fremont called "Shalimar"

1 in Fremont branded as "Indian Chatkhara"

Interestingly when I first went to the Shalimar Restaurant in Fremont they informed me that they were closed and I should go next door to Chatkhara as that's also their store. 

My initial assumption for the new branding has something to do with Taxation matters. Which doesn't surprise me as after all they've had a Cash Only policy. Implying that,  more than likely they've been under reporting there actual income.  Given there rapid growth over the past 15 years I wouldn't be surprised if they're on some  sort IRS watch-list. 

Based on this assumption one could easily explain the reason for the name change. However, that still doesn't explain their divestment from the Sunnyvale entity, that is if the Shalimar group has indeed sold it. As folks at the Fremont Shalimar and Chatkhara claim that they've sold the Sunnyvale entity, however Sunnyvale entity folks deny their claims. Although the "Shalimar Group" website does not list the Sunnyvale entity, which could mean they've sold that store -- however what about the brand? Have they sold the rights to the "Shalimar" brand as well, or have some sort of co-use branding arrangement? 

One other interesting differentiation to note between  Shalimar and Chatkhara is the latter except credit cards. 

Which points back to my initial assumption where the Shalimar entity, due to it's growth has come under IRS scrutiny, and so the reason for them to divest and re-brand. Though, I don't buy the divestment story. I think it's safe to assume that the divestment is within the Shalimar Group as a short term strategy to clear any record that may exist with the IRS. With their long term strategy leaning towards an all out re-branding and name change from Shalimar to Chatkhara.

Reference links: 

1. Shalimar SF: http://www.shalimarsf.com/

2. Shalimar SV: http://www.shalimarsv.com/

3. Indian Chatkhara: http://www.yelp.com/biz/indian-chatkhara-fremont

October 15th Reception with President Obama in San Francisco

Friend -

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that President Barack Obama will visit San Francisco on Thursday, October 15th. This is the President’s first visit to the Bay Area since he took office. We are delighted to welcome President Obama back to our region and community where he received some of his early support, which played an important role in the last historic election.

That said, I'd like to invite you to a Reception with the President that will benefit Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) that's aimed at mobilizing people in California and across the country to support President's legislative agenda on health care, climate, education and other top priorities.The reception will take place at 5:00 PM at Westin St. Frances Hotel in San Francisco.

If you would like to attend the reception, please sign up here,https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute/SFOct15Reception?custom1=AR+Rafiq

You are also invited to attend the dinner following the reception by signing up here,https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute/SFOct15Dinner?custom1=AR+Rafiq

Feel free and reach out to me with any questions that you may have.Once again thank you for your support and leadership. Hope to see you at the event on October 15th.Best

Regards,


AbdulRahman Rafiq
Event Co-Host
(805) 708 - 1976 (c)

Click for Reception Facebook Page

Jordi La Forge VISOR comes to life ... from SciFi to SciFact ...

Recall Jordi La Forge and his VISOR, a device enabling the blind to regain a sense of sight. Ever wonder if that could become a reality? Well wonder no more, Scientists at University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) have developed a pair of glasses that do just that, yes allow the blind to regain a sense of sight. Though not normal sight, it's something better than nothing.

Wake up San Francisco - Paki's in town!

On Aug 19th, Pakistani-Americans from the Bay Area and greater Northern California region flocked to the Civic Center in San Francisco to commemorate 60 years of Pakistan's independence.

The event was hosted and organized by the Pakistan Association of San Francisco, with support from various other individuals and organizations. Some of the name brand organizations that were represented here were APPNA (Association of Pakistani Physicians), Pakistan Link, OPEN SV (Organization of Pakistan Entrepreneurs and professionals of the Silicon Valley), and several other kindred groups such as Hidaya Foundation who have been tirelessly providing much needed relief to the 2005 Earthquake and 2007 Cyclone victims in Pakistan.

The event was well attended, with lots of fan fare, music, dance, and ethnic Pakistani food catered for a nominal charge by local Bay Area restaurants. A successful event it was, though I must point out a few areas of improvement.

Firstly, the event agenda appeared disjointed. Second, the Music was way too loud, louder than what San Franciscan's would have anticipated. Not mention the program appeared fairly ad-hoc.

This is an annual event put up by the Pakistani Association of San Francisco. Year after year they ably draw in crowds numbering in the thousands. It is about time PASF concentrate it's efforts on quality, rather than quantity. The people will come regardless of what type of event it is. Other than OPEN SV, PASF is the only Bay Area organization that has successfully, year-over-year drawn in people, in the droves might I add.

Following is a video clip taken with the Flip Video device.

Narrowing of Silicon Valley Muslim World View

Over the past year, since I moved to the Silicon Valley I have been interacting with various community groups and organizations. Paying lip-service to many, and endorsing a few fully where I was able to engage with folks who were on a similar thought pattern as mine.

I wont name names here, but every organization or project I would attempt to dangle my feet in, I would very quickly start thinking on how to get out. Initially every entity looks attractive from the outside.

An openness to accept new ideas is missing in this community. If you try to make statements other than what is acceptable within the context of a certain ideological framework, you will surely find yourself out numbered and marginalized by the vast majority. It's as if there is a deliberate attempt by the Silicon Valley Pakistan and Muslim communities on a whole to shun out all-things-other, that is all things that don't related to religion and money.

Now I could be overtly generalizing, but take the recent Mohsin Hamid event at Stanford - Mohsin Hamid a renowned Pakistani novelist, author of two books "Moth Smoke" and "The Reluctant Fundamentalist".

The turn out was OKAY, but not great - I expected far more people, as there are a sizable number of Pakistanis in the Silicon Valley and Bay Area in general who have heard and read Mohsin Hamid's novels.

Further, in the recent Sahil Bachao campaign I helped spearheaded in the Silicon Valley, as part of the larger team effort in Karachi, Pakistan there was little interest displayed by the BayArea Pakistanis. My question is, aren't there any Pakistanis out here that have any iota of interest left for all-things-other than religion? If an event or cause doesn't make explicit reference to religion or making money, then it is not important. This seems to be the mainstream attitude amongst Silicon Valley Pakistanis and Muslims in general.

Many a times it is extremely frustrating dealing with the vast majority of the Silicon Valley Muslim and to some extent Pakistani communities who will brand you as "kafir" (unbeliever) upon the slightest notion that your views are not compliant to theres. This is a largely educated Muslim community, highly professional working in several of the fortune technology companies - however to much a due quite insular and impervious to listening to all-things-other than religion.

This intolerance to all-things-other, is a trait which is found in much of the Muslim world. Exactly the reason novel ideas aren't able to take root. How is a society to progress with such an attitude that shuns at all that don't see eye-to-eye with them. There is more to life than just religion and money, what about enhancing once culture, or rather cultures in the case of Muslims who come from a large cultural spectrum.

Culture is one of the all-things-other that has been shunned to the side, and replaced with religion. Religion is good, but not the only thing - there is much more to life. Your faith is merely a component, an important component mind you of your life.

Copyright C. Abdulrahman Rafiq