At the young age of 12, Mr. Haji Mirza AlHelli Yousif had to stop his education and begin selling kerosene after his father fell ill and passed away, leaving him, his mother, and his siblings to care for one another.
To ensure his family had enough food, he would trek long distances carrying four-gallon containers of kerosene, climb high ladders, and pour the fuel into barrels under the hot sun.
After twenty years in this line of work, he embraced it as his profession. In 1970, after marrying, he opened a small cold store at home, working alongside his wife to manage the business. While continuing to sell kerosene, his wife would purchase soda and chips for the store, all while caring for their children. He often credits her unwavering support as the most remarkable aspect of his life.
When selling kerosene began to take a toll on his eyesight, he decided to step back from that role. This shift opened a new chapter for them as they moved the cold store to AlDaih, now known as the Mirza AlHelli Cold Store. Driven by his ambitions, Mr. Mirza later secured a lot in Jidhafs, where Aswaq AlHelli was born.