Decades in the Making
Starting in the late 1980s, Arab immigrants from Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq began opening businesses along a sleepy stretch of Brookhurst Street in West Anaheim.
Pioneers like Kareem’s Falafel and Altayebat Market laid the foundation for dozens of restaurants, travel agencies, legal services, and pastry shops that transformed the area into a cultural beacon.
The 2022 Milestone
After decades of advocacy by community leaders, the Arab American Civic Council, and local merchants, the Anaheim City Council unanimously voted in September 2022 to officially designate Little Arabia.
The designation provides city signage, economic development initiatives, and cultural preservation, solidifying Little Arabia’s status as a Southern California landmark.