Sameer Kaiser Eid

Sameer Eid, the larger-than-life proprietor of Phoenicia and the heart of his family, passed away on August 15, 2025, at age 85.

For more than half a century, Sameer was the face of Phoenicia, a modest diner he bought on a whim in 1971 and transformed into one of Michigan's most enduring dining institutions. With his Monopoly Man mustache, exacting standards, and unmatched charisma, he not only put Lebanese food on the map but built a place where generations of families were welcomed as though they were his own.

And while the restaurant became a kind of extended family, his true center of gravity was always at home, where he delighted in being a devoted husband, father, and doting grandfather.

Sameer Kaiser Eid was born on January 24, 1940, in Marjayoun, Lebanon, to a Greek Orthodox family. His father was a road commissioner, and his mother, whom he often credited as one one of the best cooks he ever knew, shaped the exacting palate that would later define his career.

In 1961, he immigrated to the United States to study banking and finance at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, and quickly grew to love the warmth and generosity of the people there, often referring to himself as a Texan for the rest of his life. He also brought some of the state's distinct barbecue with him to Detroit, most famously in the dry-rubbed baby back ribs that became Phoenicia's best-selling dish.

In 1967, Sameer moved to Detroit to work in the drapery business. But on a fateful summer day four years later, he walked into his favorite Lebanese-owned diner for lunch and walked out as its new owner, having bought the place on a handshake deal for $5,700 despite having no previous restaurant experience. Over the years, Phoenicia went on to receive national acclaim, serving four generations of regulars as well as Hollywood celebrities, titans of industry, and even a sitting U.S. president.

If Phoenicia was the vessel Sameer navigated to success, the love of his life, Leila (Khoury), was his anchor. They married in 1976 in São Paulo, Brazil, and together built a home and family life that grounded him. Family was one of the few things he held above work, and he delighted in his role as the Eid patriarch.

Because he spent so much of his life at Phoenicia, the restaurant became a second living room for the family. Samy, his eldest son, parked cars as a teenager before eventually stepping into the role of operator, while siblings Omar and Rachelle grew up alongside the guests who came to feel like extended kin. Still, Sundays were sacred, when Sameer and Leila gathered family in their Bloomfield Hills home for sprawling feasts of their Lebanese cooking.

Away from the dining room, Sameer poured his energy into the same things that made him so beloved by all: building, tending, and caring. He was a proud gardener, especially of his tomatoes, and a handyman who loved making toys, picnic tables, and even kites for his grandchildren. He and Leila also treasured their time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they kept a second home and gathered loved ones with the same warmth that defined their life in Michigan.

Sameer credited his remarkable longevity to discipline and small indulgences. He swore by a daily dose of Lebanese olive oil, poured into a pocket of pita and taken like medicine. And he kept to a strict ritual of lunch at Phoenicia, followed by a midday nap, and a return to the restaurant to greet guests for dinner. In his later years, he could often be found at the restaurant during lunch trading barbs with his friends over a game of backgammon, still happiest in the company of others.

But it was in his role as "Jiddo" (grandfather) where his warmth shone brightest. With eldest grandson Wilder, he shared his love of building, teaching him about tools and how to work with his hands. Penelope joined him for lunches at Phoenicia and cherished their sleepovers. He delighted in watching Forrester eat, a simple joy that never failed to make him smile. And with Felix, he had a playful habit of biting his chubby thighs, sending his youngest grandchild into fits of giggles. Sameer was also eagerly looking forward to the birth of his fifth grandchild, a joy he spoke of often in his final months.

His life was a feast of family, friendship, and generosity - one that nourished everyone lucky enough to share a table with him.

Sameer is survived by his wife of 49 years, Leila; his children, Samy (Francesca), Omar (Sahar), and Rachelle; and four grandchildren: Wilder, Forrester, Penelope, and Felix.

Family will receive friends Tuesday, August 19, 2025 from 2-7PM with 6:30PM Prayers at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave (btwn 13-14 Mile), Royal Oak, (248) 549-0500.

Funeral Liturgy Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Visitation will begin at 10AM and Mass will begin at 11AM at the Basilica of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, 18200 Merriman Road, Livonia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Mary Orthodox Basilica's Mariam Center. Contributions can be made online at https://stmarylivonia.com/s/mariam-center-donations/