Moncton shop caters to international clientele
A taste of home is enticing customers to a new, and growing, international shop in Moncton.
From fufu flour to dried cassava leaves and special skin and hair products, the Baobab Store is appealing to immigrants looking for reminders of home.
Adelle Lubaki moved to New Brunswick from Congo 20 years ago. She opened the store, which carries products catering to an international clientele, in January.
"To have authentic African meals my family of five, we always had to drive to Montreal to get African groceries every few months," said Lubaki.
With her four children now away at university, Lubaki says she could pursue her dream to open a store.
Even though Lubaki lives in Bathurst, she decided Moncton would be the best place to open the Baobab Store.
So she splits her time between the two cities.
"Moncton has a growing number of New Canadians and a large international student population from the University of Moncton. And bit by bit, Moncton is becoming a cosmopolitan city."
Bibiche Mvula moved from Congo six months ago and now works part time at the store.
She found it a month after she arrived and felt at home.
"I feel good here. I feel good. And all those things [are not] new for me. So I'm very happy be here," Mvula said.
In January, the store carried 200 products, now Lubaki says she stocks 500.
