Rep. Omar lunches at 900-stall mall days after D.C. raid

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) re-emerged publicly on Friday by eating lunch at the Karmel Mall of Somalia. This visit marked her first appearance in the public eye since federal agents raided her Washington, D.C., residence on Oct. 12. She dined in the mall's food court, where Somali, Palestinian, and American flags hung at the same height. State Attorney General Keith Ellison joined her for the meal.

The four-story building houses 900 individual vendors. It operates differently from standard American shopping centers. Instead of large department stores, the space contains small units where owners lift metal garage doors to open for business. There are no strict posted opening or closing hours. The structure resembles a storage facility more than a traditional mall.

The dining area features a light blue ceiling decorated with a white star. Somali cafes serve traditional dishes, including sambusas, a flaky fried pastry filled with meat and spices, and bijaye, a fried cornmeal item similar to hush puppies. Many patrons ate with their hands, while Omar and her group used forks.

Basim Sabri, the mall's owner, granted media access to film the visit. Sabri, a Gaza-born businessman, stated that the Karmel Mall is the largest Somali mall in the world and the largest in Minneapolis. He described the location as an incubator where businesses start and eventually move to larger spaces. Sabri owns several nearby apartment complexes that are mostly occupied by Somali residents.

The mall serves as a center for the local Somali community. Shops sell prepaid electronic SIM cards for international calling and offer money transfer services to Somalia and Kenya. Travel agencies provide arrangements to the Middle East and East Africa. Traditional clothiers and barbers also operate within the building. English is the second language spoken there.

Security guards surrounded Omar and Ellison throughout the visit. Patrons greeted the congresswoman, with some posing for photographs. Sabri posed for a photo with Omar, Ellison, and an unidentified man. The owner and the attorney general had a brief conversation during the lunch.

Sabri has a complex history in Minneapolis. In February 2024, he banned Mayor Jacob Frey from the premises after Frey vetoed a city council resolution supporting an Israel-Gaza ceasefire. Sabri has stated that the mall is not exclusively for Somalis, but outsiders are often scrutinized by security. He is a high-profile local figure who sends his son to a private school in Switzerland costing about $184,000 per year.

The owner previously served a 33-month federal prison sentence in 2005 for bribing a local official. He spoke about his time in prison, including a stay at the Federal Correctional Institution in Leavenworth, Kansas. Sabri views the mall as evidence of assimilation and the American dream for his tenants.

“You can see [the] Somalis not only integrating in the community, but also prospering,” Sabri said. He acknowledged that there are individuals in every society who face legal issues, but he emphasized that Somali business owners are intelligent and hard-working. He invited the public to visit the mall to see the businesses making a good living.