February 5, 2025

How Aidan Ruston, aka AJ, built a music empire in Waterloo with ‘The Kitchen KW’

Aiden John Rustin, known to many as AJ, lost himself in the rhythm of his own making. Stretching his arms toward the amplifier, a gentle smile tugged at his lips, a quiet acknowledgment of the music’s power to speak what words could not. It was around 10 p.m at The Kitchen KW studio as the scene unfolded. “The location that we’re at, they don’t let us make noise until 5:30 … Continued

From Syria to Waterloo: Ahmad’s journey of building a barbershop empire rooted in quality and integrity

The snipping of scissors and the gentle hum of clippers tell a story of resilience and ambition. Mohamad Al Ahmad, a seasoned barber with over 20 years of experience, has crafted a thriving Waterloo business known as City Style Salon and Barbershop. When Ahmad first opened his barbershop on Hemlock Street, Waterloo, in 2017, he had a simple goal: to bring his years of expertise from Syria to Canada. By … Continued

VIDEO: Restaurants strive to hold menu prices down as food inflation skyrockets

Even as inflation trends down, Canadians are not seeing this reflected in food prices. The owner of Osmow’s Shawarma Laurier, Sam Malik, wants to increase his menu prices, but he can’t. Costs for the most popular food he sells in his restaurant, chicken, increased by nearly 6 per cent in October. What is holding him back from increasing his menu prices?