It became a Co-Op supermarket for a time (1997–2008) before being used as an Al Tazaj fast food restaurant and was subsequently acquired by the Sharjah Art Foundation for use as a community centre, display space and arts centre. The original café at The Flying Saucer was opened by entrepreneur Gerard Raymond, whose Gerard's Cafés became a popular local brand with branches in Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman.[3]