Handy family – is the most famous and huge family in Vermont, who came from Labanon. They own different businesses, participate in politics, charity and more. Their history dates back to 1896, when on December 11 the first Lebanese Souleiman “Solomon” Elhindi came with his nephew Peter to America. This family have different version of last names nowadays – Hindi, ElHindi, Hendiyeh, which in Arabic means “native” or “ Indians”. In 1907 Peter`s brother Gabriel came to America. In 1913 Souleiman and Peter founded Newport Ice Company. By the 1930s Peter Handy was known as “ The ice king of Vermont”. In 1920 Gabriel invited his younger brother William with his wife and kids: Charlie, Mary and Ned. When World War II began – bad news came - Ned was sent home, Charlie was deferred from military service. By 1950 Newport Ice Company was diversified in company who work with trucks, farm equipment and real estate. It was necessary as refrigerators time came. In 1965 Slimain “Simon” Handy came to America. For this man all the Simon`s convenience stores are named in Vermont. Three years later, in 1968, Gabe Handy with Charlie, Joe, Joan, Tony and Laura followed him. Today all of them have a business, are successful and well known. Also, we need to admit they are hard working, even today everyone work every single day with no day off to keep their company grow. Today Handys family own(news): · They own car and truck dealerships in St. Albans and Montpelier; · restaurants in Burlington and South Burlington; · movie theaters, drive-ins, campgrounds and strip malls in St. Albans and Colchester; · hotels, motels and apartment buildings in Essex, Fairfax and Shelburne; · farm and construction-equipment dealerships in Middlebury, Plattsburgh and Malone, N.Y.; · and gas stations, liquor stores and convenience stores throughout Chittenden County and beyond; · Sunset Drive-In in Colchester ,still owns that property, which later became a McDonald’s and is now the site of the Farmhouse Tap & Grill; · Runs Handy Hotels; · They own and operate four hotels and more than 300 apartments in Chittenden County; · Rental properties in Fairfax and St. Albans; · In Colchester, the family also owns the land where the Burger King, Motel 6 and Junior’s are located; · In Essex the Handy Suites and further east on Route 15 a 36-unit apartment building; · Apartments all over Burlington city, VT; · Simon`s Stores: Simon`s Berlin Store, Simon’s Chimney Corners Store & Deli, Simon’s College Parkway Store, Simon’s Downtown Quick Stop Simon’s Essex Store & Deli, Simon’s Exit 16 Inc., Simon’s Five Corners Store, Simon’s Four Corners Store, Gracey`s Store & Deli, Gracey`s Liquor Store, Simon’s Milton Store, Simon’s Montpelier Store,Simon’s Park Street Store & Deli, Simon’s Plaza Store & Deli, Simon’s Route 2A, Simon’s St. George Store, Simons Shelburne Rd, Simon`s Waitsfield, Simon’s Winooski Store, Simon’s Gas (Go Go), Simon`s White River Jct, Simon`s Waterbury, Pearl Street Mobil; · Handy`s Service Station; · Malletts Bay Campground; · Swiss Host Motel & Village; · Anchorage Inn Hotel.