Asa Al-Furat, an Iraqi coffee shop and bakery, bridges cultures on Route 66 in Springfield

A journey across decades of life and thousands of miles brought Imtihan Alaid to Springfield and to her place on one of the world’s most famous roads, where she now operates Asa Al-Furat, a coffee shop and bakery reflecting her Iraqi heritage.

Even just a few years ago, she never expected to be sitting in a shop – let alone her shop – facing Route 66 in downtown Springfield. Part of this was because she'd never heard of Springfield. (More on that in a minute.)

But as the fates have it, here she and her mother now are, serving delicacies like baklava – sweet pastry filled with nuts and syrup or honey – and rich coffees spiced with cardamom and dates.

ASA Al-Furat

Imtihan Alaid owns Asa Al-Furat, an Iraqi coffee shop and bakery in downtown Springfield.

"I tried to do something ... where I feel like, 'This is where I like to spend my time,'“ she says, noting she wanted to channel the vibe of coffee shops as community spaces. "I wanted to be able to see that as well, and also like to connect people with my culture, and try the food that we have."

That journey began in Iraq, where Alaid lived for about a decade of her life. Part of her family left the country as refugees, and ended up in Turkey for about 10 years while awaiting placement in another country.

“You stay there until they tell you, ‘Oh, this is your time to fly to the U.S. or Australia or Canada, wherever your case is gonna go,’” she says. “Our case had been accepted in the U.S., and I thought we're going to Chicago, because we know Chicago. And then we arrived to Chicago airport, and they said, 'Oh, you have another flight to Springfield.’”

Springfield?

“We didn't know anything about Springfield or Missouri,” she says.

That surprise has led to waves of change since their arrival in the Ozarks in 2023. Alaid initially worked for a nonprofit that served fellow refugees, but when funding dwindled, she looked for other opportunities. Out of that, the coffee shop and bakery idea was born.

"Since I was young, I liked to bake," she says. "I really wanted to start a business, and maybe something just stable to put my feet here on the ground — something clear for the future."

Opening the shop in downtown Springfield

ASA Al-Furat

That wish became reality at the cozy shop, which includes personal touches — like photos of Alaid's late father, next to a sign that says "family." Another reminds "Coffee speaks when words rest." Nearby, a chalkboard is filled with colorful drawings and well-wishes. A guitar and couch sit in a corner and wait for customers.

The cozy shop's menu includes house-baked goods like that baklava – here, it’s filled with pistachios – as well as “milk baklava, which is creamy and layered with milk chocolate powder. There's an orange bundt cake on a stand on the counter. Other options include Znoud El Sit, crispy rolls filled with cream and syrup; coconut cookies; honeycomb bread; and sweet dates rolled in sesame seeds. There are also a couple of food options, including a mixed salad and a toast sandwich, featuring toasted bread stuffed with sausage, chicken and melted cheese.

Some are Alaid’s own recipes, while others are traditional with her personal spin. An example is Terab El Molok, a creamy layered pudding.

“I like to layer it with cake or biscuit and then layer it with pistachio or chocolate sauce at the top,” she says. “So it's traditional, but I kind of add my touch there.”

And then there are the drinks. There’s traditional Iraqi coffee and tea – enjoyed hot and with sugar even in warm weather, Alaid says – as well as specialties like Layali Al-Iraq, described on the menu as “Authentic Iraqi dates blended with rich coffee, cardamom and cream.” Other cold options include a red jelly slush, iced hibiscus tea and a “Blue Blinko,” a sweet and sour lemon drink.

Some ingredients take effort to get to Springfield – like coffee beans from Yemen, which are prized for their flavor. “Those are so good and strong,” she says. “So I have to travel to Kansas City, or call my sister from back home to send me beans.”

A place as community space

Asa Al-Furat is housed in what was formerly European Cafe, less than a block east of the Springfield square. Alaid praises the city for its diversity, a shift from her years in Turkey, where there are few variations in cultural expressions like food.

"Springfield — what I like about it is it's really diverse," she says. "You have Mexican food, you have Chinese food, different food, and it's amazing."

She’s spent time exploring the Ozarks, and talks of really enjoying places like Branson, Eureka Springs and Ozark. She is integrating locally in educational ways, too: In the fall, she begins Pre-Med studies at Missouri State University.

And, in this chapter, she hopes that the shop reaches people – who are here, and others who may be passing through on Route 66 – with the chance to stop, pause and enjoy a new place of community. She sees that opportunity in Springfield, where the shop’s hours extend into the evening.

“After dinner you want something sweet, or like you want to go out, but you don't want to eat. You just want some tea or just want some dessert,” she says. In her mind, the shop is a third space where you can gather; “Where you can come and enjoy your evening.”