Latest news with #HasabMohammed
Daily Record
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Fundraiser launched for cafe hit by Kilmarnock fire
Hasab Mohammed, owner of Sixtyone Café in Kilmarnock, lost his business in the King Street fire but was relieved no one was inside. A cafe owner who put in "decades of tireless effort" to achieve his dream is aiming to rebuild after the devastating King Street fire. Hasab Mohammed, owner of Sixtyone Café which was destroyed in the fire on Monday night, had put his heart and soul into opening the cafe with "the best coffee in Kilmarnock". A family man who moved to Scotland from a small village in Sudan as a result of the Sudanese Civil War over 20 years ago, Hasab achieved his dream when opened up Sixtyone Café six years ago. It had become a popular venue in the town centre and Hasab was proud of the business which became a success because the town "stood with me". Following the fire, a fundraiser has been set up to help rebuild Sixtyone Café which has already raised more than £2,000. Hasab said he "believes in this community" because it has taken him in and helped him establish a well-liked, successful café. Despite the effects of the fire on his business, Hasab said he was "happy" that no one was inside and that he is still able to provide for his family. Speaking to Ayrshire Live, Hasab said: "It was my dream to have my own business. I saved every single penny for my future. "It was our six years of opening the business just recently. At times, I was struggling to get customers in but I built up customers and had a good relationship with them. "We do the best coffee in Kilmarnock I've been told. Everyone left satisfied. I was happy for every single customer that came into my shop." Late on Monday evening, Hasab received a phone call to say the cafe was on fire and he quickly made his way down to the scene to see what was happening. He added: "The fire didn't just take flames to bricks and mortar - it swept through my memories, my present reality, and the dreams I'd worked so hard to build for the future. "Decades of tireless effort, of sacrifice, of saying no to life's smallest luxuries just so I could say yes to one dream: opening my own café. "Sixtyone Café wasn't just a business. It was my story, my struggle, and a symbol of hope. It stood because this city stood with me - every kind word, every loyal customer, every helping hand gave it life. "Now I find myself starting from ashes. And while the fire took much, it didn't take my spirit. "I'm reaching out once more, not for charity—but for solidarity. Even the smallest gesture will help rebuild what was lost. "I believe in this community because you've helped me rise before, and I know together, we can do it again." Emergency services were called to the King Street fire shortly before 9pm on Monday evening. A large cordon was put in place and a number of businesses remain closed today, Wednesday, July 16. Police have appealed for information and are treating the fire as wilful.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Glasgow dad 'lost everything' as he watched life project Kilmarnock cafe burn to the ground
The Kilmarnock cafe owner was alerted to the fire by one of his customers. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Kilmarnock cafe owner has spoken out about his shock as he had to watch his business burn to the ground. Hasab Mohammed, 45, lives in Glasgow's southside but made the commute early every morning to his business SixtyOne Cafe on Kilmarnock's King Street. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After working around 15 years in hospitality, Mr Mohammed had finally saved money to open up his life-long dream of the cafe in November 2024. On Monday night, he received the devastating news that his cafe was on fire along with several other businesses on King Street. He rushed to the scene and said he had to watch his cafe as it burned. The huge blaze ripped through a number of buildings in Kilmarnock on Monday, closing roads and businesses in the town centre. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fire crews were called to a fire on the ground floor of a four-storey building on King Street just before 9pm on Monday, which then spread to neighbouring premises. The fire is now being treated as 'deliberate' while police have launched an investigation. The business owner lives with his wife and three young children and has now launched a GoFundMe page as he says he is 'starting from the ashes'. The huge blaze ripped through a number of buildings in Kilmarnock on Monday | Hasab Mohammed. What he misses most is the 'fantastic' regular customers that would visit his cafe. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was one of these customers who alerted him to the fire on Monday. Speaking to The Scotsman, Mr Mohammed said: 'One of our regular customers phoned me at about half nine and said 'did you hear about it? your place is on fire?' 'I said that it was no time for a joke but he said he was being serious. 'I rushed over there and saw all the smoke. All I thought was 'it's over. My savings from my whole life, the past 15 to 20 years, it's all done.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'For me it's my first business, when you've saved all your life, it's hard.' GoFundMe launched to help pick up the pieces after fire Currently, due to the devastating blaze and loss of the cafe, he is hoping to make a living from starting JustEat or Deliveroo deliveries. Within the post, he said: 'Last night's fire didn't just take flames to bricks and mortar—it swept through my memories, my present reality, and the dreams I'd worked so hard to build for the future. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Decades of tireless effort, of sacrifice, of saying no to life's smallest luxuries just so I could say yes to one dream: opening my own café. 'Now I find myself starting from ashes. And while the fire took much, it didn't take my spirit. 'I'm reaching out once more, not for charity—but for solidarity. Even the smallest gesture will help rebuild what was lost. I believe in this community because you've helped me rise before, and I know together, we can do it again.' Make sure you keep up to date with news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SixtyOne cafe opened in November of last year. | Hasab Mohammed. Mr Mohammed added that the fire has also had a large impact on his family. He told The Scotsman: 'My kids keep asking me every single day 'daddy, are we poor now?' 'It's worse. It's like someone's stabbed you in the heart with a big knife. 'I'm going to start again from the ashes.' Mr Mohammed says that he has 'never given up in his life' and is desperately hoping to make money for the future. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Customers say I have the best coffee in Killie' 'Everybody says we have the best coffee in Killie,' he added. 'After the first sip they're like: 'that's what I've been looking for, I wasted my time in Costa'.' Mr Mohammed also added that they were complimented on their 'terrific' food. In particular, a favourite was their mozzarella panini. 'We're not here for money. We're here to serve customers from the bottom of our hearts. 'I don't want to go back there [to the cafe] and wash the ashes after my cafe just burned down in front of me.'
