It has been six months since Radwa Matar of Millersville officially opened the doors to Koshary Station, 4 S. Prince St., Millersville. The restaurant, which serves traditional dishes from Matar's native country of Egypt, is the culmination of her many years of experience in the food industry and her desire to share a piece of her culture with the local community.

Matar moved to West Lancaster in 2006 after her husband, Mohamed Ibrahim took a job as a machine operator for Kellogg's. Matar began working in the cafeteria for Hempfield School District, as well as local commercial kitchens and catering services, where she gained valuable insight on different aspects of the culinary world. Although she enjoyed her work, Matar developed and held onto a vision to open a restaurant of her own someday and share a piece of Egypt with her new community. Last year, she left her position in a school cafeteria to realize her dream.

The road to opening Koshary Station wasn't an easy one. Not only did Matar need to apply what she had learned from years in the industry, but she also had to become familiar with the logistics of operating her own business. During her time working in a school cafeteria, Matar learned how to organize a stock room and a walk-in cooler, keep track of expiration dates and shipment times and ensure the entire kitchen remained clean. Matar also served over 300 children a day, which she credited with teaching her how to regularly interact with patrons.

Since opening Koshary Station, Matar has been met with a wave of support from the community. Matar and Ibrahim moved to Millersville three years ago, and Matar said she continues to be amazed by the warmth of both her neighbors and her customers. "It's blown our minds to see people supporting us," Matar added. "Everyone is willing to try something new and learn more about Egyptian food. Some customers come in every week and introduce us to a new friend each time."

Not only is Koshary Station a product of Matar's own experience and work, but it is also a testament to the overwhelming support she has received from her friends. In June, Matar needed to make an emergency trip to Egypt to visit a family member who had fallen ill. Although it would result in losing money and customers, Matar had planned to close Koshary Station for two weeks while she was away. Without hesitation, Matar's friends Riham, Yasser and Zaenab stepped up to operate the restaurant in her stead, dedicating all of their time to ensure things ran smoothly.

As a new business owner, Matar has learned to navigate challenges such as accounting for periods of time where business slows down; for example, many of her regulars are college students who do not remain in Millersville during the summer. Matar is planning to expand her menu and introduce a new special every week. She has also added a small section in the restaurants to sell souvenirs from Egypt, such as T-shirts and small trinkets.

In July, Koshary Station partnered with Church World Service (CWS) to offer meals for refugees in Lancaster. Through the partnership, patrons are able to donate a meal for a set price, which Matar then collects and gives to CWS for distribution. "For people who move here from Africa or the Middle East, (a traditional meal) is like a piece of home for them," Matar said.