Knoxville's Yassin's Falafel House named 'Nicest Place in America'

Yassin's Falafel House was named the Nicest Place in America. Good Morning America's Robin Roberts made the announcement to owner Yassin Terou, who traveled to New York believing he had been named as a finalist for the award.

The award was a collaboration of Reader's Digest, ABC's Good Morning America and 10Best.com. Over 450 people submitted nominations, with Yassin's garnering multiple nominations.

Terou and his family fled a war-torn Syria in 2011. He sold sandwiches outside a local mosque before eventually opening his first restaurant in 2014. Terou opened a second restaurant in West Knoxville in 2017.

Yassin and his restaurants have maintained a strong philanthropic presence in the community. He's previously held fundraisers to benefit 'Bridge Refugee Services' and offered free food to those fleeing North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence.

Signs reading "Welcome all sizes, all colors, all ages, all sexes, all cultures, all religions, all types, all beliefs, all people, safe here at Yassin's Falafel House," are displayed prominently at both restaurants.

Yassin's Falafel garnered national recognition when the restaurant was profiled in a short film produced by Square, the film was a finalist at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Source: WATE

The East Tennessee Economic Development Agency markets and recruits business for the 15 counties in the greater Knoxville-Oak Ridge region of East Tennessee. Visit www.eteda.org

Published October 12, 2018