[1] Karim immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 2010,[1] studied engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal and worked for Philips before having to quit to run Boustan full-time.

[1] The restaurant moved several times before settling in its current location, 2020A Crescent Street in downtown Montreal.

[2][1][3] He eventually sold the restaurant to George Hatzimargaritis and Mario Daigneault on March 25, 2012 for an undisclosed sum.

[4] In 2016 Boustan opened its fifth location in Laval, Quebec at 1601 Daniel Johnson corner St Martin.

[5] In 2017 Boustan opened locations in Verdun, NDG, Rosemont, Côte-des-Neiges, Kirkland, St-Henri, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, St Leonard and Blainville.