SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Adrian Bell has sold the Centre Square Mall Javaroma stand to the owners of Main Street Donair & Falafel, ending a run of more than 10 years as owner of the popular downtown coffee provider.

Javaroma stand general manager Diane Wiseman serves customer Bobbie Walsh a cup of French vanilla coffee. The stand has recently been sold to Yousry and Amana Abdelmegid, owners of Main Street Donair & Falafel. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

The sale to Main Street husband and wife team Yousry and Amana Abdelmegid was completed last month, confirmed Bell.

"A couple of years ago it was up for sale and I've basically been trying (to sell it) since then," said Bell, who cited staffing as the primary challenge of running the stand and main Javaroma outlet in the NorthwesTel Building.

"I'm just looking for a new challenge. I've been doing this (running the stores) since 1996. So it's time for something new."

The Abdelmegids were on vacation in Egypt and could not be reached as of press time. Bell added that the sale of the main store is likely to be completed by the end of August, though he could not reveal who the buyer is.

Bell's brother and former minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Brendan Bell, bought the Centre Square stand in the mid-1990s, when, ironically enough, it was located at the current home of Main Street Donair & Falafel. Brendan also opened the NorthwesTel Building location.

"Brendan had a commerce degree, so he had some idea of what to expect," said Bell. "But we just kind of took it on hoping we could figure it out as we went along. We were very lucky."

Then politics came knocking for Brendan, at which point Adrian – who had returned to Yellowknife from the south to help his brother – purchased the property outright.

The challenges of running the store – especially for Adrian, who had virtually no experience in the food service industry – remained pretty much the same up until the sale, said Bell.

"There's a lot of chaos, a lot of different variables, when you're running a food service operation," he said. "(I was) learning all of that without having really a whole lot of experience."

Bell added he's certain the stand is now in good hands, saying of Yousry, "He's done a very good job with Main Street Falafel. He pays very close attention to his operations, introduces new products. And (he's got) speed and good service.

"I think he's going to do a lot of good things."

Of his own achievements as owner of Javaroma, Bell said he's proudest of having purchased a roaster for the store in 2000.

"The coffee-roasting – I'm very proud to have developed that," he said.