Little Arabia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Little Arabia
|
|
|---|---|
|
Ethnic enclave
|
|
| Nickname(s):
Little Gaza
|
|
 Little Arabia
Location in California
Little Arabia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County |  Orange |
| City |  Anaheim |
| Time zone | UTC-8 |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 |
| ZIP |
92804
|
| Area code(s) | 714 and 657 |
Little Arabia is a special neighborhood in Orange County, California. It's a place where many Arab-Americans live and have their businesses. Over 24,000 Arab-Americans called this area home in 2000.
Sometimes, people call it "Little Gaza." This name came from an older name for the area, "Garza Island." Little Arabia grew a lot in the 1990s. Many families from the Middle East moved here. Most of them came from places like Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Yemen.
This vibrant area is mostly found along Brookhurst Street in Anaheim. It's close to the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5). You'll find it between La Palma Avenue and Katella Avenue. The businesses here are very diverse. They include shops selling halal meat, beauty salons, and jewelry stores. You can also find Arabic and Islamic clothing shops. There are travel agencies, bakeries, and many Arab and Armenian restaurants. You might also see hookah cafes. The neighborhood also has several mosques and a few churches.
Contents
Exploring Little Arabia's History
This section tells you how Little Arabia came to be. It shares how the area changed over time.
How the Neighborhood Grew
Like much of Anaheim, the area of Little Arabia developed in the 1950s. This was because Disneyland was built nearby. Disneyland brought new jobs and growth to the region. Before that, the land was mostly used for orange groves. Over time, some people moved away from the neighborhood. It started to look a bit run down. But in the 1980s, many Arab families moved in. Their arrival helped the area become lively and busy again.
Community Support for Change
In 2011, Little Arabia became a hub for Arab-American activities. People gathered to support the "Arab Spring" events. These were big changes happening in Arab countries. For example, on February 4, a demonstration supported the Egyptian revolution. It took place on Brookhurst Street. On February 11, there was a celebration. This was after the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, left power. Another celebration happened on February 12.
People in Little Arabia also held protests for the Syrian revolution. On October 20, Libyan-Americans in the area celebrated. They were happy when Moammar Gaddafi died.
When Hosni Mubarak's trial was happening, local restaurants were full. People watched the live news coverage until very late.
In August 2011, a new restaurant opened. It was called "Medan el-Tahrir," which means "Tahrir Square." This name honored a famous square in Egypt. The restaurant hosted an event for a Syrian-American group. This group was against Bashar al-Assad's rule.
Working for Official Recognition
In 2021, people in Little Arabia wanted their area to be officially recognized. They asked the city of Anaheim to make it an official district. Most voters in the neighborhood agreed with this idea. They also wanted official signs to show it was an ethnic enclave.
Little Arabia's Economy
This section looks at the businesses and food you can find in Little Arabia.
Popular Hookah Lounges and Restaurants
Little Arabia is well-known for its hookah lounges. A hookah is a special pipe used for smoking flavored tobacco. There are more than a dozen businesses that offer hookah or sell supplies. Some popular restaurants that serve hookah include Nara Bistro and Nubia Cafe. Other popular hookah lounges are Hidden Cafe, Fusion Ultra Lounge, and Dream Cafe.
In 2005, Anaheim made national news. The city decided to ban belly dancing in the hookah bars of Little Arabia.
The OC Weekly magazine gives out "Best of OC" awards every year. In 2011, Olive Tree Restaurant won "Best Middle Eastern Restaurant." This restaurant is on Brookhurst Street. It's famous for its "daily special" dishes. Each day, they offer one or two special meals. These might include "Maqluba", "Sayadeia" (a grilled fish dish), or "Kabsa".
Local Government Services
The United States Postal Service has a post office in Little Arabia. This post office is located within the neighborhood's general boundaries.
