 The humble baked potato has been a comfort food staple for centuries. Simple, filling, and endlessly adaptable, it's the kind of meal that shows up across cultures in one form or another. For many of us, it is often loaded with cheese, bacon, and sour cream and served as a side at a backyard BBQ or steakhouse dinner. But these versatile, nutritious powerhouse plants take on an entirely different personality depending on where you enjoy them. a Global twist: the turkish kumpir In Turkey, for example, baked potatoes evolved into something much more elaborate. Known as kumpir, they're split open and mashed with butter and cheese, then piled high with mix-ins like olives, corn, spicy carrots, pickles, sausage, and more. Street vendors line up trays of toppings for customers to build their own combinations. It's casual, customizable, and surprisingly satisfying. That same spirit lives on at Potato Express, a family-run shop in Downtown St. Thomas, Ontario, where the baked potato is more than just a side dish. For the owners, Akram and Sunrise, it's the centrepiece of their first business venture in Canada—and a bridge between where they've come from and where they're going. Building a dream from scratch
The family from Saudi Arabia arrived in Canada a little more than a year ago. However, their roots trace back to Palestine. Coming here wasn't only about change. It was about opportunity. Their oldest son is heading to college soon, and like many parents, they were thinking hard about what kind of future they could build for their kids. Starting a business felt like the right move, even if they had no real experience in food. Sunrise taught English to grade-school students, and Akram worked in school administration. Like many entrepreneurs before them, they crafted a dream. They used some transferrable skills and a whole lot of hard work to carve out a place for their family, turning baked potatoes into something kind of brilliant. The idea came from a mix of observation and instinct. Canadians, they noticed, really like potatoes. (Can confirm.) Potatoes are loaded with nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fibre. They are also relatively low in calories, fat, and sodium, making them a versatile and filling base to build a dream on. Inspired by the Turkish style of fluffing up the potato with butter and cheese, then loading it up with a fresh array of toppings like olives, pickles, corn, peas, various sauces, and a wide range of vegetables. What's on the menu? The most popular item is the build-your-own potato, which makes sense. People like to be in control of their meals, especially when they're trying to eat a little better or avoid certain ingredients. There's also a Mexican-style one that gets a lot of love. Crispy chips, bold flavours, the whole thing. They've also spent their first year in business listening to their customers and learning more about ingredients that aren't common in Saudi Arabia like sour cream, chilli, and bacon - to add some North American staple flavours to the menu. Fresh not fried: the Potato express way! Everything is prepped fresh daily. And while potatoes are the name of the game, you're only going to find them baked, not fried! Each day starts chopping fresh vegetables for the topping counter that will remind you of the array available at most sandwich shops. It's a little more effort, sure. But they're not cutting corners, especially when it comes to offering healthy choices. And maybe that's part of what makes it feel like a family-run business in the best sense. Not just because their kids help out on weekends (which they do) but because there's care baked into every step of the process. From choosing the right potato for the job (russets) to learning more about ingredients folks have suggested. rooted in community These warm and friendly folks didn't choose St. Thomas by chance, either! Akram's brother had been here a few years already and spoke highly of how supportive and kind people were and how it felt like a big family. That's been their experience, too. While the distance from family in Saudi Arabia felt heavy, and the weather took some getting used to, the community has made them feel welcome and supported. One customer even brought Akram a Mr. Potato Head toy as a gift. reflections after one year!
So what's their takeaway after a year in business? Two things, maybe. First, people are kinder than we sometimes expect. And second, you can learn as you go. Even if it's uncomfortable at first. Even if it's a big leap. They're not just making potatoes. They've got salad and sandwich options too. But more than that, Akram and Sunrise are carving out space for themselves, their kids, and anyone looking for a warm, satisfying meal made with intention. If you go
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