Intent to combine, advance care in rural Midwest
December 9, 2024
MARSHFIELD – Al Madinah Cuisine (1504 S. Central Ave.) – a beloved community restaurant that has endured several changes of ownership since its original 2023 opening – is getting a new lease on life now owned and operated by Mashaal Stanekzai and his family.
Mashaal’s father, Moin, said the Stanekzai family reopened the restaurant in November after they decided to buy it from the previous owner.
According to the restaurant’s Facebook page, Al Madinah was founded and opened by a couple from Hyderabad, India – Syed and Najeeb – in November 2023.
Then, Syed and Najeeb handed operations over to a family member, Umer, in May 2024.
After temporarily closing Al Madinah to transfer ownership, Moin said Umer reopened the restaurant for one month between July and August before deciding to sell it due to ownership conflicts with his additional business partners.
In a Facebook post, Umer wrote, “…the business may in fact close unless someone willing were interested to keep the Indian cuisine alive for which there is a definite need in the area.”
Luckily for the dedicated patrons of Al Madinah, the Stanekzai family said they reached out and expressed interest in purchasing the restaurant shortly after immigrating to the U.S.
From Afghanistan to Wisconsin
Moin said his family was warned that it would be an uphill battle to reestablish the restaurant following the previous owner’s conflicts, but said they saw a vision for Al Madinah, and decided to take the risk.
Through the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, Moin said he and his family were able to immigrate from Afghanistan to the United States – landing in Wisconsin in August 2023.
An SIV is a special visa given to Afghan citizens who are “employed in Afghanistan by, or on behalf of, the U.S. government; or by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/Resolute Support (RS),” according to the U.S. Department of State.
“I was working before as a quality inspector for Donaldson (Company, Inc.),” Moin said. “(Mashaal) requested me to leave the job and come and join (Al Madinah).”
Moin, who now manages the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, said he was joined by his wife, Zaaro, who cooks all of the meals Al Madinah offers its customers.
“My wife, she is an absolutely fantastic cook,” Moin said. “She is cooking all the meals, all the food here, and she works non-stop.”
Community support
Zaaro isn’t the only one who is working long days to reestablish the community’s trust in the restaurant, Moin said.
After immigrating to Wisconsin, he said his children applied and were accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – where Mashaal now studies accounting.
“They are also working night shifts, eight hours, and then they (go to) university,” Moin said. “After university, they come to the restaurant – that’s a tough job for them.”
The Stanekzai family’s effort is not for nothing, however, as Moin said the community support they’ve received since reopening Al Madinah has made the long hours more than worth it.
He said in addition to the Indian cuisine people were used to ordering from Al Madinah, he and his family added a few Afghan menu items as well – such as Bolani (a classic stuffed flatbread which come in potato and beef and cheese varieties) and chicken or vegetable biryani (a traditional rice-based dish) – which he said have been received very well by the community.
“The reviews that we are getting here online (are) five stars out of five – the food taste, the atmosphere and the service, all five out of five (stars),” Moin said.
He said the support he and his family have received from the City of Marshfield is also encouraging – demonstrating a passion for maintaining culinary diversity in North Central Wisconsin.
“The community, and especially the City of Marshfield, they really helped me a lot,” Moin said. “Within one or two days, they gave me all the documents that I need(ed) for the opening (of) the restaurant.”
Sights set on expansion
With the additional Afghan menu items and returning Indian favorites Al Madinah’s customers came to love, Moin said customers travel from across North Central Wisconsin to taste the unique food the restaurant offers.
“People are coming from Wausau, from Stevens Point, from Wisconsin Rapids,” he said. “People drive for 45 minutes (to) one-and-a-half hours. So that (means) a lot for us.”
It’s unsurprising people travel so far to eat at Al Madinah, Moin said, because “here in Marshfield – in the center of Wisconsin – there’s no restaurant with such foods or tastes.”
He said with people driving from across the region for a taste of Al Madinah’s food, Mashaal “has plans for (a) second or third branch as well in the nearby cities.”
But for now, Moin said he and his family are excited to continue serving the people of Marshfield – and beyond – the delicious cuisine offered at Al Madinah.
Visit the restaurant’s Facebook page for more information.
