Connecting Neighbors: Saboor Sahely

Studying mining and geology in Afghanistan and graduating with a degree in business from Utah State University, Saboor Sahely planned to work for a major mining or oil company after graduation. One thing is for sure, he knew he never wanted anything to do with the restaurant business. You just never know where life will take you.

While attending Utah State, Saboor worked as a dishwasher at Sambo’s Restaurant in Logan. After hoping to land a job in the fields he had studied, things took a different turn. To make a long story short, he eventually bought the place where he had worked as a dishwasher. It became Angie’s Restaurant in Logan. That was 1983 and Angie’s Restaurant is still going strong with Saboor at the helm. As people say, “Angie’s is where the locals eat,” with good food and fast, courteous service. As the new owner, Saboor paid attention to all the details, which meant connecting with his customers. Saboor proved himself wrong—he should be in the restaurant business! His decision has resulted in a very successful business that has become a true gift to Cache Valley.

Saboor shares his story of coming to the United States from his homeland of Afghanistan as a young college student. With determination and drive he arrived here with basically just the shirt on his back. The summer he arrived, he worked three jobs before school started and began moving forward in life, but it was not easy. He and his young family knew what it was like to ‘live on a shoestring.” Saboor has never forgotten what that was like. Through those growing pains, he learned compassion and appreciation for those who stood behind him—first and foremost, his wife Kristine and the ongoing support of the community. In turn he continues to give back in how he treats his customers, his employees, and by serving the community in many ways. Over the years, he has hired several second-generation employees to keep things running smoothly. Most importantly, his customers keep coming back, many of them now third-generation customers.