“If you take the time to come into my store, you are family to me,” Issa Wehab, one of the owners of Bob’s Country Corner, said. Every day, customers of all ages flow into the store on Alameda Ave., from young children buying candy bars to grandparents picking up the morning paper.
Country Corner has a history unlike any other store in Menlo Park. The store was founded in the late 1890s, and later purchased by a French couple, Paul and Sharon Shabika. The shop originated as a general farming store surrounded by “rolling hills and farmland.” “They took care of the farmers with stock, feed, and things that you would use for farming supplies,” Issa said.
Issa’s parents Bob and Nadia Wehab, Middle Eastern immigrants, purchased the store in 1993 after meeting and falling in love in San Francisco. The couple took over the store a few years after the surrounding area had shifted from an agricultural area to a residential one, and they decided to transform it into a general goods store.
“My parents came to America with very little and treated everyone as family, and they became super successful just from doing that,” Issa said. “I want to continue that because it’s so rare to see and it almost doesn’t exist anymore. So it became super important for me to make that my mission, to keep that environment alive.”
My parents came to America with very little and treated everyone as family, and they became super successful just from doing that. I want to continue that because it’s so rare to see and it almost doesn’t exist anymore.
Issa Wehab
Bob passed away in 2017, and his loss affected the community greatly. Today, Issa and his brother run the business with their mother. “I think just calling it a store is almost inaccurate,” Issa said. “I always look at it that way based on how my dad treated all the customers and how a lot of people know us on a first name basis. They’ll ask about our families. We ask about their families. We’re invested in them as much as they’re invested in us.”
“Everytime I go in, everyone is always full of smiles and Issa always greets everyone in such a kind way. They have everything you need and the legacy behind the store is so special,” frequent customer and M-A junior Ryland Caelius said.
Today, Country Corner is stocked with rows of snacks, drinks, candy, and general supplies. The sweet offerings vary from all types of gum and lollipops to chamoy gummies and chips.
If you’re looking for a meal, Country Corner offers countless options through their deli. With more than 25 sandwich options—from the Nadia’s Special to the Hummus Sandwich—the menu has options for anyone. “My message is Country Corner is the best place for sandwiches,” Issa said.
I always look at it that way based on how my dad treated all the customers and how a lot of people know us on a first name basis. They’ll ask about our families. We ask about their families. We’re invested in them as much as they’re invested in us.
Issa Wehab
“I used to live a five minute bike ride from the store, and one of my favorite aspects is the community. It is always so nice to see a familiar face who is so invested in our community and lives,” junior Sabine Polly said. “There is a wall that has heights of kids in the area, and dates that the heights were taken, which is so sweet.”
“With everything that we do here, we want to make sure that everyone is treated like family, and that we’re enriching people’s lives,” Wehab concluded.
