A 26-year-old Vienna native is bringing Yemeni franchise Sheeba Restaurant to Church Street for its first D.C.-area location, though the originally planned summer opening has slipped past its target date.

Sheeba will open at 111 Church St. NW, the storefront Le Bistro vacated earlier this year, according to TysonsToday. The franchise, founded in the early 2000s in Dearborn, Michigan, has grown to multiple locations in that state but has never operated in the Washington region.

Franchisee Nadir Naimi is opening the restaurant alongside his uncle, Mohamad "Izzy" Alkibsi, whose family previously owned Alf Laylah in Chantilly and Babalu in Tysons. It's Naimi's first business.

Naimi has described the concept as "casual fine dining," pitching high-quality food and presentation without the formality or price tag of a traditional fine-dining experience.

The menu will feature Yemeni and Mediterranean dishes: shawarma platters, all-day shakshouka, fahsah, samboosa, hummus, baba ghanouj, sandwiches and salads.

The space

Le Bistro closed in early 2026 after chef Roberto Donna and his wife, Nancy Sabbagh Donna, sold the business. In a farewell message on the restaurant's website, Sabbagh Donna said a special opportunity had arisen for the space and wished the new owners well. Donna's flagship, Roberto's Ristorante Italiano, remains open just doors away at 144 Church St. NW.

FFXnow first reported Sheeba's plans for the Vienna location on March 31, describing a summer target.

Timeline unclear

Sheeba originally aimed to open before mid-summer. As of mid-August, the restaurant is still listed as planned rather than open, and no new date has been announced.

The franchise also announced a Bronx, New York, location in June 2025, signaling broader expansion beyond its Michigan base. No opening date for the Vienna location has been set.