On Berlin's 'Arab Street,' two worlds collide

People work at the Syrian restaurant Aldimashqi in Berlin, Germany May 12, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

BERLIN (Reuters) - During the Cold War, Sonnenallee was an unremarkable street with a checkpoint that drew attention only at Easter when West Berliners visited their relatives in the East. Nicknamed "Little Beirut," it was known for its Lebanese stores and smoky cafes playing old Arab songs.

Then, in 2015, the street was given new life. An influx of refugees, mostly Syrians, turned Sonnenallee into one of the busiest streets in the capital. Today, crowds of shoppers push past stalls selling fruit and vegetables. Two confectioneries mark the Syrian presence, "Green Idlib" at the northwestern end and "Damascus" to the southeast. "Little Beirut" became known as "Arab Street."