Meet Tata Sidibe, Owner of Aurora’s Ibiza African Market
Posted by metroafrican on Jul 9, 2009 in Featured • No comments
When we pulled into the parking lot to visit Ibiza African Market in Aurora we found it sandwiched between an English Tea Shop and a line of Korean storefronts. Inside was a modest-sized shop that was tidy and well organized. Shelves were stocked with all types of organic spices, flour, grains, teas, and a variety of Goya products.
Beyond those shelves toward the back of the shop were shelves full of DVDs and CDs of mostly West African movies and music.
We were met by Tata Sidibe the owner of Ibiza African Market who gave us a tour of the store. Tata is a native of Mali who has been in Denver for over five years. She opened her shop while still attending Columbia College, from which she recently earned her bachelors degree in Business Administration. Tata runs the shop primarily by herself, though she gets help from her siblings when she travels to purchase goods for the store.
When we visited Tata had just returned from New York where she had purchased a variety of shoes and matching handbags. She has several suppliers of West African items, but is still looking for distributors of East African goods. Her goal is to offer a range of products from across the continent.
In addition to shoes and bags, Ibiza African Market offers African clothing for men and women, cosmetics and hair care products. Ibiza also offers services such as MoneyGram and bill payment, and there is an ATM on site. It is amazing how much is packed into this store without feeling cluttered.
Just as we were lamenting the lack of meat in the shop, Tata guided us to a freezer in the back of the store from which she pulled beef, fish, goat, and chicken. The selection is not as extensive as what you will find in some of the other markets, but it is available if you are already there picking up a DVD or some organic spices.
When setting up her shop Tata knew she would need to distinguish her store from the other African markets in the area. So she stocked up on a variety of African CDs and DVDs. “And I have another shipment coming soon,” she says.
Beyond the selection of products she offers, there is another way Ibiza distinguishes itself from other markets. “I don’t want to flatter myself, but I would say customer service,” Tata says. “I talk to customers – That’s what they tell me.”
Tata opened the market March 1st of this year, making it Aurora’s newest African market. So how has business been? “I can’t complain,” Tata says. “So far it’s been good. I just need advertising.”
And what is in the future for Ibiza African Market? There is a room behind the main store which Tata is looking to turn into a salon. And beyond that she still has improvements to make to the existing shop. “I want to have maps of africa with information about different parts… Culturally its a very rich continent.”
Ibiza African Market is located at 1930 S. Havana St. #7, Aurora, CO 80014.
It is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm and on Sunday from 11am to 7pm.
During the month of July, visit Ibiza African Market and mention metroAfrican to receive %10 off your purchase.
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