The Salem family established Tripoli Restaurant in 1973. Once located directly across the street, the restaurant moved in 1982 to the present larger location. The Salem family is originally from the city of Tripoli in Lebanon. When they came to the United States, they found that there were only a few Middle Eastern restaurants around, but hardly any of them were really that good. The Salem family decided to open a restaurant where you could get a good home-cooked Lebanese meal the way mom used to make.