An Iranian who built a new life for himself in Britain is giving all his profits to local charities in thanks to the city which took him in.
Grateful Ali Pajouheshnia, 63, known by his middle name Reza, came to this country at the age of 18 to study.
For the last 25 years he has become well-known in Plymouth, Devon for his takeaway and calls the city his ‘Bethlehem’.
He survived a multitude of health scares at the end of last year and now says he wants to “give back” to the city that has always supported him.
Reza, a father-of-two, said: “I want to return what Plymouth has given me.
“Ultimately Plymouth is my Bethlehem. I worship Plymouth and there is no city that is more precious to me.
“My wife and I are not into partying, holidaying, or buying luxury things, so we thought let’s do something good with the money we earn.
The hard-working shop owner said: “I often put in in excess of 60 hours per week in the shop.
“This means I can earn up to £400 in a week – which means £20,000 per year.
“And that’s just the beginning. We are one of the largest, if not the largest, food bar in Plymouth. I know how great the potential is.
“I will be donating money from all corners – not just from my wages but all profits and money that gets put in the tip jar.
“I employ five staff and some of them are even donating out their own pockets.
“The sky really is the limit.”
He added: “I have enough income from other sources, including a number of properties that I rent out, to keep us comfortable.
“All I want is to kiss the hand that has fed me for the last 45 years in this city.
“I just want to say thank you.
“I have watched, over the counter, young lads and lasses come in here holding their mother’s hands – and now they have grown up to be mums and dads themselves.
“It fills me with confidence that I have done the right thing.”
Reza said he has only ever wanted to do something for the city – and believes his charity project has “great potential”.
He added that his wife Linda, 63, and adult children, 33 and 28, were just as eager about the idea.
“They told me, ‘Do it’. My wife and I are not people of luxury. We do not need another chair or another table or a bigger car. We are people of comfort.
He added: “If I can be an example or a trigger to other people, I will be over the moon. Today is just the start.”
“After consulting my family, including my two fantastic grown-up children, I have decided that any profits, and my wages, made at the premises will be donated to charity.”
With the help of local accountants, self-employed Reza has now changed his Ali Baba’s takeaway to a not-for-profit business.
He says any profits he makes will be given away – and he wants his customers to suggest deserving local causes.
He added: “My message to the people of Plymouth is to support the idea, let it grow, and decide which charity the money goes to.”
Reza first came to Plymouth at the age of 18 to start a degree in electrical engineering.
But with employment rates at an all-time low when he graduated, he soon decided he would be better off self-employed.
He opened a wine bar and then a food bar before setting up Ali Baba’s in the heart of the city’s nightlife area.
He said: “Many people say I am a legend here, bless them, but I have definitely been here the longest.
“I suffered a serious illness at the end of last year and I was on 30 tablets a day – which is part of my reason for donating to charity.
“”My doctor of 30 years said, ‘Does anything I say bother you or scare you?’ and I said, ‘No, absolutely not’. I love life but I have no fear of death.”
Reza said he has printed 50,000 menus to be distributed across Plymouth to let people know about his generous plan.
“I want to do my children proud and leave something behind for people to be proud of me for,” he said.
