Recognizing the diversity of Canton Township was just one of the reasons Mahmoud Elhassan decided to open one of the restaurants in the area.
After many years of working with his family, they have precisely achieved that: Peepo’s, a sub shop specializing in Middle Eastern fare, opened in the fall of last year at 41810 Ford Road. The restaurant, which opened in the former salon space, is the second shop run by the same family.
Elhassan, an Dearborn Heights resident, came to the United States from Lebanon in the mid-2000s. He and his other family household members, like his brother-in-law Ali Elromh, began working in restaurants throughout the region in areas that did not have much Middle Eastern offerings when they decided to open a business for themselves. This was the beginning of Peepo’s restaurant located on Beech Daly in Taylor in 2011.

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“I wanted to bring something here that nobody is serving,” Elhassan stated. “We grew so much.”
Elhassan explained that he started exploring the Canton region a few years ago, looking for the perfect location to start another store. Then he stumbled upon the vacant space in the mall located on the north end of the road, between Haggerty and Lilley.

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“No location was eye-catching more than this location,” he added. “I went around.
“I love the community here because it’s so diverse. I’ve never seen any diverse community like Canton.”
The menu — which has been cut down from what it had in the past, includes some classic American subs, such as steak, chicken, and cheese, and snacks and smoothies. Food items with a Middle Eastern influence include shawarma and the Afrikan. It’s a dish made by Peepo’s, which can be prepared in various ways, including a bowl, sub, or salad.

Looking for a unique name, they started using”Afrikano” “Afrikano” and it’s become Peepo’s brand name in the region. Despite its name, this dish doesn’t originate from Africa. Its name is a nod to the spicy food found in the African continent.
“It’s a name that we came up with for the hot sauce we use,” he explained. “It worked out fine, honestly. It was very catchy.”

It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. The menu is available on the website of the restaurant: peepossubs.com. Along with online ordering options, the store can also cater and order via third-party delivery websites like DoorDash or Grubhub.

Elhassan said he’s thrilled to offer their food to a new audience and hopes to bring many guests seeking an original dish at the restaurant.
“It has been a blessing,” he added. “We cannot wait for everyone in Canton to come to try our food.”