Today we’d like to introduce you to Mohamed Eldibany.
Hi Mohamed, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a physician practicing hematopathology, a narrow area of medicine focused on identifying disease entities for appropriate treatment. My family enjoyed art. Dad, a family physician, played the piano and considered doing so professionally.
Mom loved painting and other arts. She also played piano a little. They loved to dance and they were pretty good. My siblings followed suit with painting, sculpture, while all having professional careers in architecture, dentistry, software programming, etc. My niece is a successful mezzo-soprano, performing in France and other European countries.
My wife used to live in Savannah. I visited her frequently and fell in love with Savannah’s charm and the kindness and hospitality of Savannahians. I decided to set roots in this lovely town.
One day, my friend and realtor Michael Hardy asked me to have a look at 2603 Whitaker, housing Pinch of the Past, a well-established architectural and antique retail business that was on the market for sale. I was immediately taken by the uniqueness and beauty of the structure, a diamond in the rough, I thought as I walked the building. I envisioned how it might transform for many to enjoy. As I browsed around I found a small 19th century bronze plaque of an Egyptian Governorate building which I bought for $10.00. I made an offer to purchase it a couple of hours later the same day. This is how it all started, one day in March 2017.
2603 Whitaker, was built as an ice factory in the early 1900s, then over the years, it was used as several churches, before being acquired to house the antique retail business.
Victory North finally opened its doors at 2603 Whitaker August 2019, following extensive overhaul renovations, which included every aspect of the property; architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning & ventilation, adding an elevator, ADA accessibility, fire sprinklers,… etc.It was then equipped with the best sound and light systems.
I proceeded to expand. I acquired the next-door property that had a structurally unsafe building, which we demolished and replaced by a beautifully manicured courtyard, essentially one of the largest private courtyards in Savannah, which I lovingly refer to as Victory North Square, in reference to the well known Savannah squares.
Victory North hosts weddings, all sorts of private and corporate events and functions as well as concerts by national touring performers and local musicians. Victory North had to shut down 7 months later, March 15, 2020, because of the Covid pandemic. We reopened in stages and are now fully open.
https://www.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has never been smooth. Much work had been done to meet all the local ordinances to receive the building permits. Issues and surprises during construction had to be overcome and dealt with by finding alternative solutions and designs. Fortunately, I was supported by a team of local skilled professionals who believed in the project.
Hiring the right employees to manage the project was challenging. Then came Covid, and shuttering, followed by supply chain shortages and price increases. Many people are not yet comfortable going back to public spaces hosting large gatherings.
I would say that the Pandemic has been the most brutal especially for those of us who had just started and not yet established.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My vision has always been to transform the neighborhood around Victory North and to establish Victory North as a National Icon in the hospitality and concert world.
In order to move towards my overall vision of being a catalyst of rebranding the neighborhood, I knew I had to expand the “Victory North concept” from a singular establishment to a “Victory North entertainment Complex”, by providing multiple hospitality and entertainment options for local Savannahians and visitors alike. This would transform the area into a destination. I wanted to increase the walkability of the streets, complementing Two Tides Brewery, Starland Yard Food truck compound, Starland Station restaurant, and others, knowing that by doing so, other entrepreneurs and businesses will likely want to join in and be encouraged to start their own dreams.
In my mind I see the neighborhood as an outdoor mall with establishments for entertainment, food & beverage, retail businesses; records, clothing, antiques, etc., and some services.
In order to move towards this goal I acquired four more properties over the last 3 years:
1) 2605 Whitaker Ave, next to Victory North, and developed The Garage at Victory North, a true hole-in-the-wall Kitchen & Bar, a kitchen without borders concept with Mezza, and delicious and adventurous chef-designed savory fares. The Garage is a space where everyone is warmly welcomed, receiving personal attention in a cozy ambiance complemented by harmonies, background music, and appetizing aromas, while enjoying the company of old friends, making new ones, or personal introspection.
2) 9 W 43rd, less than half a block away from Victory North. 9 W 43rd is an old Victorian historic house that I restored to its original condition to house Troupial Café. Troupial serves specialty coffee and Venezuelan baked goods and plates. We lovingly refer to the property as the Yellow House. It has the colors of Troupial, the Venezuelan national bird. I kept a large parcel “green”, creating a park-like setting, adding to the outdoor space of Victory North courtyard. The idea is to host weekend family picnics, neighborhood block parties, private events, outdoor music events,…etc. And eventually neighborhood weekend festivals with all the local businesses participating. Troupial is furnished with antique and restored furniture from the same era as the house itself. It is scheduled to open in late-March 22.
http://streetfoodhomeflavors.
3) 104th W 42nd, a vacant lot to be used as parking for guests and potentially another location for outdoor weekend events.
4) Our next step is to renovate 15 W 43rd, which is the icehouse, across the street from Victory North, where the ice manufactured at 2603 Whitaker (Victory North) was stored in. It is a unique small red brick building that we are currently designing to house a concept to be announced in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.victorynorthsavannah.com/,https://www.thegarageatvictorynorth.com/, http://streetfoodhomeflavors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorynorthsavannah/, https://www.instagram.com/thegarageatvictorynorth/, https://www.instagram.com/troupialsav/
