That same visionary spirit led him to revive Captain Canuck, Canada’s iconic comic book hero, through his reboot of Lev Gleason Publications. In all his ventures–whether cultural or culinary–Hakim is known for deals that are fair, collaborative, and built for long-term success.
On The Lakeview’s patio, the buzz of Toronto’s Dundas West behind him, Hakim says he only opens places he’d want to go.
“At heart, I’m a collector. Any place that I open has to be a culmination of the culture, and the things I’ve been exposed to, the things I love,” says Hakim, who started in the restaurant industry at thirteen as a Golden Griddle busboy and opened his first place in Parkdale at nineteen. A hustler, not for the money but for the chance to share his vision grand-scale, Hakim credits his self-belief–and like-minded partners–with his success.
“I’ve been at this for a long time so I know who I want to work with and who I can trust,” Hakim says. “Our places mean so much to so many people because we never skimp, we never sacrifice. We only open what we think is cool–where we’d want to be.”
As an entrepreneur, Hakim brings a bold, trendsetting vision to everything he does: his places are singular and meaningful, both to him and to the culture at large. He sets trends without asking permission. Take Haifa Room, his Israeli-Palestinian restaurant that proved so successful that Hakim opened a second location last year in Vancouver, with eyes on additional spots across Canada and around the world. Jean Darlene, which lets the audience be the star at Toronto’s slickest hotspot, will open a second, much larger Toronto location later this year. Hakim says he’s been able to put his finger on the pulse of fashion and culture not by looking outside for influences, but looking within.
Beyond the business successes, it’s clear Hakim finds personal joy in his work and the community he’s built. “I’m overjoyed to be doing what I love and sharing meaningful experiences,” Hakim says, as he greets a steady stream of well-wishers on the corner of Ossington and Dundas streets in Toronto.
Next up is Chapter House, a distinctly Fadi Hakim concept that fuses café, library, and nightlife energy, complete with a comic book press in the basement and a Pilates studio–run by his wife and business partner–upstairs. The future, says Hakim, is wide open. He’s guided by hard work, strong convictions, and a deep belief in reshaping the world through his own fearless perspective.
“I love what I do and I’ve done it for so long that I consider myself blessed,” he says. “It’s a privilege sharing my dreams with the world.”
