The first Middle Eastern grocer in Toronto—opened in 1975—the once diminutive 1,200-square-foot shop has grown to a whopping 12,000 square feet. Expansion means even more Middle Eastern staples: halloumi, zataar pita, chickpeas, harissa, and freezers full of convenience foods, some comfortingly familiar, some exotic. At the 36-item olive and pickle bar: smoky black Syrian olives, Lebanese green olives with thyme, pink pickled turnips, tiny pickled lemons, Iranian curry pickle. Bowls for pits encourage sampling. Shoppers fill their carts with bags of the softest pita in town—it’s baked twice a day for freshness. Peruse dozens of olive oils and 12 varieties of dates.