Watertown Restauranteur a Step Closer to Opening New Place on Common Street

Ahmad Yasin, the man who ran Kareem’s Restaurant for more than two-dozen years, moved a step close to getting back into the restaurant business in Watertown.

Yasin runs a catering business and cooking school named Yasin Culinary, but he seeks to open a restaurant in the storefront at 99 Common St. on the weekends. Before he can do so, he needs approval from the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Two weeks ago, the Planning Board gave him the OK to open the restaurant, even though he does not have parking spaces for diners.

In April, Yasin came before the Planning Board, but when several neighbors protested the proposal because it would bring more cars and take up street parking in front of nearby houses. Many fans of Kareem’s came out to voice their support.

Yasin withdrew the proposal and resubmitted it this fall.

When he appeared before the Planning Board on Nov. 10, two neighbors said they do not want to see a restaurant opening on their block. Yasin owns the building, which also houses Handy Variety.

Don Levy, owner of Deluxe Town Diner and a member of Watertown Local First, said Yasin’s restaurant is the kind of thing the group supports – an independently owned business. Yasin is also a member of the group.

The restaurant would only have four tables, and Yasin promised the Planning Board he would have a reservations-only policy, and would not have delivery trucks. The dining hours would be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Yasin said he does not want to run a restaurant seven days a week. He did that from 1986 to 2000 at Kareem's, but stopped to raise his family. Now he needs to save for his child's college, so he wants to open the restaurant two days a week.

The Planning Board approved the special permits for non-conforming use and no parking for the restaurant 5-0.

The next step for Yasin is getting approval from the Zoning Board.