Moroccan Restaurant Owner Drives to Pick Up Customers Amid Access Problems in Italy

When a customer has trouble finding the way, Ibrahim Hadrami sometimes gets in his car to pick them up. At other times, he shows them the route from behind the wheel of his own vehicle, with the customer following. It is an unusual situation for the owner of the “Le Palme di Marrakech” restaurant, who is trying to keep his business going despite traffic difficulties.

The restaurant opened on October 4, 2025, at 1/C viale Regina Margherita. Ibrahim Hadrami and his wife previously ran a small shop on via Roma, where they served, among other things, beef tagines. The couple had chosen this new, more spacious premises, furnished with furniture imported from Morocco, to welcome more customers.

On Bladi.net : Morocco challenges Spain tonight to reclaim its world title… in couscous

But the redevelopment project in the Santa Croce neighborhood has gradually made the restaurant harder to reach. After an underpass and several streets were closed, drivers have to take a long detour via the Adua and Veneri roads. Some customers give up on coming or choose other establishments, the owner explains in a testimony to the Italian daily Il Resto del Carlino.

Sometimes just two to four customers in the evening

The effects are being felt in the number of customers. Ibrahim Hadrami says he has sometimes served just one customer at lunchtime, and only two to four people in the evening. With rent, bills and suppliers to pay, these days are financially difficult to bear. He fears he may have to close his restaurant if the losses continue.

Deliveries are making his day-to-day life even harder. Suppliers, who previously could park in front of the restaurant, now have difficulty getting there. The owner therefore has to go out himself to collect the products needed to prepare his dishes.

Other shopkeepers in the neighborhood are facing similar problems. The closure of via Sforza on Monday, November 9, made access even more difficult. They are calling for two-way traffic, possibly alternating, on viale Regina Margherita. Restrictions related to the project are scheduled to remain in place until July 2, 2027.

In response to the protests, Reggio Emilia Deputy Mayor Lanfranco De Franco, who is responsible for public works, announced a fresh review of the proposal. Two-way traffic had initially been considered but was ruled out because of space constraints. The municipality has pledged to reconsider the possibility in light of the difficulties reported by shopkeepers.