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In 1946, Lebanese immigrant Diab Boushey bought a little grocery store in the very heart of the capital in the country of which he was so proud.

Ever since, there’s been a Boushey behind the counter at what’s now an Ottawa fixture.

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On warm spring evening, people stop in for one last thing for dinner — their dogs, fresh from a walk in the nearby park wait hopefully — while cars double-park to pick up groaning gift baskets.

It’s the place where many Ottawans probably tried now-staple Lebanese delicacies such as tabbouleh or hummus for the first time, went to pick up that hard-to-find item like German sauerkraut or English jams, and where generations of neighbourhood kids got a popsicle.

But, after 70 years, July 31 will be the last day for Boushey’s Fruit Market.

“It was a good, round number — a positive number to go out on,” said Peter Boushey, who will soon turn 60 and runs the store with his brother, Mark.