Since the age of 10, Najib Karam and his brother Joey have spent much of their time in cafés, growing up in the heart of their family’s business.
After completing university, Najib thought it made more sense to play to his strengths and run a hospitality venue rather than complete a corporate stint.
“It was more organic to be able to continue doing what I’m good at,” he says.
As a result, in 2018 Najib and Joey established Jibbi & Co in Lightsview, South Australia.
The venue offers a bit of everything, including pasta, breakfast options, and a range of fresh, cold-pressed juices. There are also Mediterranean inspired dishes, with special menu options such as a traditional fattoush salad, shish tawook, and kofta skewers.
“It’s a big, versatile operation that caters to a wide variety of tastes and needs,” says Najib.
Additionally, the café features a traditional Italian wood-fired oven, one of the first things customers spy when they walk in, which is used to make authentic pizzas.
Najib says the menu pairs perfectly with Veneziano Coffee Roasters’s all-rounder Elevate blend, which features notes of milk chocolate, nuts, and honey.
Above all, he takes pride in watching the business evolve, from running a small café to managing a seven-day operation that handles breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which means the duo work a significant amount of hours a week.
“Being able to coordinate all that between my brother and I, while having a strong crew that’s well-trained, is really satisfying,” he says.
What’s even more rewarding for Najib is witnessing the transformation of the café staff.
“We get young people, often inexperienced and sometimes shy, coming in as their first job while still in school or university. By the time they leave, they’ve developed great social skills, they’re more confident, and ready to take on the world in their future careers,” he says.
“And most of the time, they leave far more capable and confident than when they started.”
Jibbi & Co
155-161 East Parkway, Lightsview,
South Australia, 5085
Open daily 7am to 9pm
