Inside Randolph Hills: Jewish Business Owners on Community, Kosher Commerce, and Legacy

By Lena Lourenco

Nestled in a neighborhood in Rockville, MD, lies the unassuming Randolph Hills shopping center. It comprises a variety of different stores, ranging from various restaurants of many kinds of cuisine, to a used- bookstore and Goodwill. For decades, the shopping center has been home to small Jewish businesses, including Goldberg’s Bagels, Sienna’s Restaurant, Israeli Accents, Motis Market and Al Ha’esh. Each store has their own unique story, and serves the greater Rockville area as staples for quality Kosher food and Judaica. Ramesh Zahed, owner of Sienna’s Restaurant, feels connected to her religion through the relationships she builds with her customers and fellow business owners.  “We are working together,” Zahed said. “We know how hard business is for everyone, so they're helping me, I'm helping them. When it comes to ordering stuff, I'm always making sure that I'm ordering from the Jewish distribution center, making sure that I can support the Jewish people.” Zahed was an operation manager at Marshalls before she took over Sienna’s, and had assumed the transition into ownership would be smooth considering her experience. However, the restaurant proved to be a challenge. Zahed built the restaurant back up from its struggling circumstances, and broadened its cuisine to Italian- Mediterranean style. The restaurant is also strictly kosher, and offers a wide range of vegetarian options, making it accessible and trustworthy for its customers.  “I know that my customers can trust us, and they know that I've been here for 17 years,” Zahed said. “A lot of my customers say they are not just here because of the license, but because I am here making sure that everything is kosher.” 

Just next door to Sienna’s Restaurant is a small store called Israeli Accents that sells Judaica, such as menorot, tallitot and handcrafted religious artwork. The store is owned by __, who has been selling judaica for 50 years. __ grew up in the business world, and helped out at her family’s retail store when she was only ten years old. She was inspired to sell judaica after living in Israel for a short period of time, and started out as a wholesaler and an importer. __ bought her products from Israel, and then sold them across the country in gift shows, where small business and gallery owners go to buy some of their goods. She also had a warehouse and showroom in another store location in the Randolph Hills shopping center, and eventually moved to her present location 45 years ago. “It makes me happy to fill that little place in the community,” __ said. “I try to be a good and decent person, I care about my customers, people that I've known for a very long time, I try to run an honest business where people can find what they’re looking for.”

Similarly to the owner of Israeli Accents, co-owner of Motis Market Tracy Yitzachy also grew up working in small businesses. She then worked in development for the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, and eventually took on ownership of Motis Market. Yitzachy describes her work as serving the Jewish community by creating another space in the shopping center where Jews can get what they need. “We know that our clients have an opportunity to shop at big name stores throughout the area and get their kosher products,” Yitachy said. “We want to be able to provide a variety of items that aren't available in those stores, to be a true kosher grocery store that serves the kosher and Jewish community.” Yitzcahy sees the shopping center as “destination point,” meaning the shops are not just for the Rockville community, but for the Jewish community as a whole. The shopping center has become a place where not only Rockville inhabitants shop, but also people across the DMV. “Our goal is to ultimately have more people attracted to our community, so that our schools and our businesses and our synagogues and our community organizations can thrive,” Yitzachy said. “Being a haven for the Jewish community, whether you're reform, Orthodox, Conservative, whatever path you follow, it's a privilege to be able to be involved in some aspect and get to know the community and the people here.”