Petra Gourmet Market opens in Rehoboth Beach

History is a big part of Petra Gourmet Market in Rehoboth Beach.

First off, the market is located in the historic McQuay’s Market building at 510 Rehoboth Ave.

The market sells Middle Eastern foods, as well as antiques from places like Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. And according to owner Jamil Ahmad, the name itself comes from the historical city of Petra in Ahmad’s native Jordan.

Ahmad immigrated to the United States five years ago, and not long after that started Jerusalem International Grocery on Route 1 in Lewes, which sells Turkish, Mediterranean, kosher, Greek and Latino foods. He said customers who lived in the Rehoboth area wanted him to open a similar store in Rehoboth so they didn’t have to fight the summer traffic.

Ahmad said he didn’t want to repeat himself with Petra, which opened in late-June, so he decided to add antiques to the mix, in addition to kosher and Middle Eastern dry foods, organic groceries and Boar’s Head meats and cheeses.

Petra will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.