In 1979, Emile Raad (60) left his homeland of Lebanon for New Zealand.
He was the keyboard player in a band contracted by New Zealand Breweries to play in pubs around the country.
When the contract ended, the band played on cruise ships for several months before Mr Raad decided he would like to return to live in New Zealand.
Having fallen for the charms of Dunedin, Mr Raad opened the city's first Middle Eastern restaurant, Emile's, in lower Stuart St.
He started out with a menu offering both doner kebabs and items more familiar to Kiwi customers like quiche and croissants.
Mr Raad said from the start the kebabs "took off" and he switched to selling only Middle Eastern food.
It was a winning idea and Mr Raad soon had three more operations in the Octagon, the Golden Centre and on the University campus.
To keep up with the demand for pita breads, he set up a bakery and designed and built an automated conveyor oven.
Mr Raad said he used to work seven days a week and had 11 staff at the peak of the business.
He will retire from his remaining shop in the Golden Centre on June 27.
Dunedin resident Kathy Holmes has been buying chicken kebabs from Mr Raad for about 15 years.
"They're the best tasting kebabs in the South Island and we always share a lot of laughs. I told him he wasn't allowed to close."
Mr Raad said after almost 30 years in the business it was "the end of an era" and time to "have a bit of fun".
"I want to thank all my staff, friends and loyal customers from over the years."
He said he was looking forward to spending more time with his wife Mary, working in his garden and "perhaps writing a book about my life".
