WINTER/SPRING 2022
17
Bringing Beirut to the World:
with Rabih
Fakhreddine Rabih Fakhreddine ‘02 is on a mission to put smiles on peoples faces and make moments memorable through unique, fun, and exciting food, beverage and entertainment experiences. The force behind some of Beirut’s most beloved restaurant and nightlife ventures, the hugely successful entrepreneur is taking the world by storm. A trailblazer in the Food and Beverage (F&B) industry, his rapid expansion in the GCC with ventures like Seven Sisters, Antika, and the Theater, has landed him a spot on Caterer Middle East’s Power 50 2021. He kindly spoke to the newsletter about his journey to success in F&B, challenges and resourcefulness during COVID, and offered words of wisdom for IC alumni and students interested in the industry.
Rabih Fakhreddine
Q: What sparked your interest in the F&B industry? A: I have always been passionate about food and entertainment. I used to do a lot of cooking and was considered a bit of a ‘foodie.’ At AUB, I was actively involved in organizing events like Ramadan Suhoors, the football World Cup, and various other parties for different clubs and organizations. This sparked my interest in the industry. In 2008, I joined British-American Tobacco (BAT) where I handled the HORECA accounts and was responsible for company events and hospitality relations in the Levant. On the side, however, I began silently investing in several bars and restaurants in Beirut, and in 2011 I opened my first bar, Faces, in Hamra. My journey started then. I started opening one bar after another, from Bigshot, to Checkpoint Charlie, to Walkman.
In 2014, I decided to quit BAT and pursue a full-time career in F&B. I started 7 Management and opened Seven Sisters Beirut. That was our first mega project - followed by Antika Bar and Cafe Beirut. In 2018 we decided to expand outside of Lebanon, opening our first Seven Sister franchise in Dubai. Now, we have eight concepts in Dubai, three in Beirut, one in Doha (with three more launching there soon), and two in Riyadh. Q: Did your time at IC help stimulate your interest in hospitality and management? A: Of course! I’ve been passionate about food and cooking since I was young. I still remember very well how we used to organize Kermesse, Carnivals, and bake sales at IC. I remember helping my mother bake cakes and selling them for Kermesse in particular. This sparked my interest in food and entertainment.
At AUB, this interest became more of an opportunity, as I put more time into organizing events and parties and made some pocket money from it. I put that money into my savings, which eventually enabled me to invest and start my business. Q: Many of your concepts, like the recently opened Cafe Beirut, are centered around bringing Beirut to the world… What makes Beirut’s food and beverage scene unique and exciting for you? A: All of my brands are homegrown concepts. Most of them were started and launched in Beirut. Beirut, in terms of its food and entertainment scene, is one of the leading cities in the world. Lebanese cuisine is incredibly rich and diverse, and is beloved around the globe. This definitely inspired me a lot. Beirut is a city of aspiration, which has inspired me to approach my work creatively, resourcefully, and from multiple perspectives.
