Bridging cultural gaps
Mohamed Omar is filling a need in the Schuyler community through his business, but he offers much more than items for sale.
The Somali native is also helping bridge cultural divides.
Following the American Dream, Omar open the African Store in June, the third store of this type his family owns and operates.
“We realized being self-employed offers more freedom,” he said.
Omar said he started out working for a Hormel plant in Colorado as a quality assurance worker. His family started a business in Denver that offers imports from Africa and Asia, which is run by his sister. Since the business became successful, the family opened a second similar business in Noel, Mo.
The African Store is the third.
On the face of it, the store locations seem far apart, but Omar said that his family looks for areas where there is a demand for such items, as well as a lack of competition.
“We have a little of everything, items that are predominately from Africa, but they also carry items produced in the USA as well as Dubai and other areas in Asia,” he said.
The store, at 16th and B streets, offers exotic foodstuffs, clothing, perfumes, rugs, and even shoes.
“In Schuyler, there are quite a few people who are looking for the African items they associate with their culture, which here include Somalia, Sudanese and Ethiopian,” Omar said.
Some of the more interesting and culturally significant items are the grains, which are imported from Africa, as well as naturally made cosmetics, which are derived from honey, he said.
And while the first few months were a struggle, Omar said things are picking up well.
“It’s exceeding our expectations,” he said. “And we’ve been welcomed by the local community. I’ve had a school bus full of people asking questions.”
But as with the store in Missouri, Omar said he sees the business as an opportunity to help African assimilate into the community, as well as educate the local residents on the rich, vibrant culture of his homeland.
“We’re bridging a gap between cultures,” he said. “Schuyler is becoming multicultural.”
Omar said he is now working with the Appleseed Corp. and Cargill to establish an English as a Second Language school for Somalis.
“We see these stores as outreach, to help Somalis understand the culture and the laws of the United States. We help them get driver’s licenses and with immigration issues,” he said. “We’re not only about profit.”