Brent Hallenbeck
Burlington Free Press
Friday August 18, 2023
Ahmed Omar at Kismayo Kitchen in 2019 FILE: GLENN RUSSELL
The owner of a Somali-American restaurant in Burlington died suddenly, according to a friend who reported his death Monday.
Ahmed Omar opened Kismayo Kitchen, named for a city in his native Somalia, on Riverside Avenue in 2019, when he was 32. His death was reported Monday by a friend on Facebook, Ali Dalmar.
“Sadly, Ahmed Kismayo is no longer with us,” Dalmar wrote beneath a photo of Omar, referring to the name Omar used on his Facebook page. “He was an amazing person who always had a smile and helped those who needed it. He went to bed healthy and didn't wake up.”
“He was kind and generous,” according to Dalmar’s post, “and his memory will live on.” Seven Days reported Tuesday evening on Omar’s death.
'Real food'Omar’s compact, 23-seat eatery drew a devoted following thanks to his menu, which featured Somali staples such as coconut chicken stew and Somali rice with chicken, beef or goat. Kismayo Kitchen also acknowledged its American audience with offerings including a Philly cheesesteak.
"My restaurant is the one you can come to and you say, 'Oh, this is different,'" Omar told the Burlington Free Press in 2019. "I wanted to change the community and show the real food and show them something they had been missing."
Those sharing Dalmar’s post on Facebook commented about his food but also his perpetually upbeat demeanor. Omar, who came to the United States when he was 18, would often greet customers with a buoyant “Hey, buddy” no matter how well he knew them. He was also a nutritionist who taught cooking classes at City Market.
“I absolutely LOVED your food,” reads a post from Harmony’s Kitchen, the Burlington catering business run by Harmony Edosomwan. “I’m so glad I got to meet you during the Burlington Juneteenth Supper Club. You were so kind! We talked about our respective businesses, how hard you work, and your amazing plans for expansion.” The Harmony’s Kitchen post noted Kismayo Kitchen’s status as “one of the only few Black owned restaurants in VT.”
Jen Berger, a longtime resident of the Old North End, told the Free Press on Wednesday that some restaurants offer a “status quo” welcome, but that wasn’t the case with Omar.
“This felt different,” Berger said. “This felt genuine.”
An atmosphere of 'joyfulness'
Omar creatped an atmosphere of “joyfulness” at Kismayo Kitchen, according to Berger. “The food was amazing,” she said. “It was delicious. It was interesting to learn about the history of the food.” The offerings were priced well, Berger said, and Omar helped to accommodate her dietary issues.
Berger said she appreciated that Omar’s example of a successful restaurant “gave permission” to other new American families in the Burlington area to open their own restaurants representing the cuisine of their home countries.
“I only went in there a handful of times but I always felt happier when I left,” Berger said of Kismayo Kitchen. “It was something that you looked forward to.”
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at [email protected].