Dawoodi’s dream

Mohamad Dawoodi runs two dessert bars and a grocery store in western Sydney, which he built from the ground up after arriving in Australia as a refugee. This is his story.

• The West Ryde fashion label set to become a household name
• Hidden gems: teppanyaki in Granville

On any given day you’ll find Mohamad Dawoodi in one of his shops on the busy main strip of Auburn.

He’ll be shaking the hands of regulars, greeting new customers with a big smile, serving up huge colourful ice-creams or talking about the five types of dried apricots and the best way to use them.

Dawoodi owns a dessert bar and a grocery store a few doors down from each other on Auburn Rd, as well as another dessert bar in Lakemba.

Mohamad Dawoodi at his grocery store. Picture: Carmela Roche

His dessert bars are popular for its Afghan desserts like falooda, an ice cream sundae made with vermicelli noodles, ice cream and fruit and nuts, while his grocery shelves are piled high with goods imported from around the world.

Dawoodi has built three busy businesses from the ground up in a relatively short time but his success came from years of hard work and determination.

He came to Australia as a refugee about nine years ago and spent about 16 months on Christmas Island before moving to Western Australia.

He worked in a grocery shop until he had saved enough money to move to Sydney and start his own business.

Mohamad Dawoodi with the popular dessert falooda.

After visiting states around Australia he decided on Sydney, and in particular western Sydney, to open his own shop.

“I decided I have to run a business especially in Auburn,” he said.

He liked that the shops in Auburn opened early and closed late, and he liked the area’s sense of community and its multiculturalism.

“I love Auburn,” he said.

Now with three busy businesses, he is able to employ other people — something that gives him great joy.

“I’m very happy now,” he said.

Falooda, made with vermicelli noodles, ice-cream, nuts and fruit.

Dawoodi is one of many refugees that add to the fabric of Auburn.

Starting next month, the Refugee Camp in My Neighbourhood will give people the opportunity to hear more stories from local refugees who will guide visitors through a simulated refugee camp in the grounds of Auburn Centre for Community.