The Brightside: Spice Bazaar
SALISBURY, Md. – A new International Grocery Store has arrived in Salisbury, allowing the community to explore the world’s flavors through the vision of women entrepreneurs. While focused on unique and healthy international flavors, it’s also giving groups in the community a piece of home.
“I want people to know me more, people to know my eating habits, people to know more about me, not as an individual as me but as an individual as a community,” co-owner of Spice Bazaar, Supanara Brinda Nandi.
Spice Bazaar is a small grocery store bringing international accessories, cuisines, ingredients, and spices to the area. However, the mission behind the store is what the owners want at the forefront. “Different food habits, different language so we want to bring it together,” says co-owner Jayati Basumallik.
Nandi and Basumallik are both from a town in Eastern India called Kolkata. They tell us, they’ve lived in America for many years now but they – and many others not originally from here – had to travel to New York or across the bridge to Baltimore to get a slice of home. “That’s when we started thinking, why don’t we open something here so that people can know our culture and even know us more?” Nandi explains, “You can have any number of restaurants but what are the ingredients needed to prepare those foods, there is nothing like that.”
The owners, along with two other friends from Delhi and Mumbai wanted to cater to the immigrant population here in Wicomico County. An extension of restaurants so people can shop for favorites from their homeland – and even learn how to make traditional cuisines. “We want to tell the community the spices we use are good for your health. They have a lot of health benefits, like turmeric, like cumin,” explains Basumallik. Nandi adds, “So they can make it at home and they can bring it here and we can taste it and we can see how they got along with that recipe.”
We’re told while much of their inventory is from India, they saw the diversity in Salisbury and wanted to find a way to meet the needs of many. Everything from frozen goods, gluten-free and vegetarian options, and fresh vegetables to deserts and treats – South Asian food is the focus, and they hope to continue to expand
while also teaching others about their culture. , “There’s a Haitian community, there’s a Pakistani community, so we are getting all their input so we can bring their stuff too.” Basumallik tells us, “We would love it if people would come out and hang out in here with a cup of tea and a little bit of snack and talk and enjoy.”
While they encourage people to grab a basket and start shopping for new spices, they say they already see the impact they’re making in the community and hope more people looking for a slice of home see the difference they’re trying to make. “We got a tremendous response from the community, we’re grateful about that the day we opened and people opened their hearts and opened their wallets,” says Basumallik.
The owners say they are planning to take the opportunity to teach community members how to cook some of their dishes.
They’re open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. For more information, visit Spice Bazaar on Facebook or online. Or you can visit them in person at 1015 South Salisbury Blvd. Suite A Salisbury, MD.
