Ibn Gabirol Street is a commercial thoroughfare with special appeal to chocolate lovers. Two chocolatiers make fresh chocolates on the premises and three shops import Belgian chocolates which are flown into Israel every two weeks under carefully controlled conditions.[2]
The unpaved road which was to become Ibn Gabirol Street had already existed in early 20th century, connecting Jaffa with the village of Al-Mas'udiyya, also known as Summeil. The village, located at the eastern end of Arlosoroff Street, became depopulated on 25 December 1947, when the 1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine broke out. Since then and until 12 September 1962, the village houses had been used by Jewish squatters, mainly new olim. In 1962, what had remained of the village was demolished in order to widen Arlosoroff and Ibn Gabirol streets.