Living the American Dream

Not many independent shop owners can stay open in a multi-day Buffalo blizzard without power. Even fewer owners are willing to continue to drive students to their store to buy products by candlelight.

Taraq Khan and his brother Ashfaq, however, are willing to do whatever they can for their customers

The brothers are co-owners of Super Bazaar, a South Asian grocery store. Since moving from their native India in April 1987, America has become their new home.

"We had a horrible snow storm a couple of years ago in October," Khan said. "We had to spend six days without power. There were students calling me up and asking for food. But the snow was too thick and I could not open the store. Finally, I borrowed a truck from one of my friends and drove the students to my store."

The shop, located at 3218 Sheridan Dr. in Amherst, is proof of the hard work ethic the brothers have. Coming from non-business backgrounds, the brothers started at the bottom and have made their way up the job ladder.

At the time, business opportunities were scarce in Kashmir, India, where the two once lived. Ashfaq, who was a lawyer, was not receiving any clients. Success was difficult to find and moving to America was the answer, according to Khan

"Life was hard during those days," Khan said. "But India has improved a lot since the 1980s. Setting up a business is not such a tedious task anymore."

Though at first American life was tough on the brothers, they eventually found their way. Starting off as a manager of McDonalds, Khan gained experience not only in running a business, but also in American culture.

"There were so many things that I did not know and wasn't aware of," Khan said. "Until I came to the States, I didn't even know such things as drive-thru even existed. My family too had to make a lot of adjustments in terms of new country, new people…But life here was better for them with all the good facilities and schools available."

Since starting a store of his own, Khan realized that the shop is a great way to get Indian foods to both longtime fans and to people new to the flavors. The store sells everything from spicy butter chicken marsala to ready-to-mix bhel puri, a traditional Indian dish with rice and vegetables in a savory sauce.

"When I first came to the States my main concern was food," said Hemanth Kumar, a first-year graduate student in the department of management and information systems from India. "I knew I wouldn't be able to adjust to just pizzas and burgers. But when I heard about this store from a few seniors and the fact that I don't have to spend any money to get there, I was extremely happy and grateful."

Super Bazaar not only provides solutions to spicy Indian food cravings, but also a solution to homesickness, according to Naga Kiran, a first-year graduate student in the department of management and information systems from Bangalore, India. To Kiran, Super Bazaar was like a dream come true.

"I love the food they offer," Kiran said. "It is of excellent quality. The best part is how the two brothers treat you. They make you feel so homely. They [also] offer a discount of 5 percent every time I shop at their store"

After seeing UB South Indian students struggling to carry heavy bags of rice in the cold, Khan cooked up an idea that has helped boost their business. The brothers offer a pick-up and drop-off service to their local shoppers.

The Super Bazaar picks up and drops off an average of 25 students per week, according to Khan.

"I was very surprised when I heard about [these services]" Kumar said. "I had never heard of such a thing before. Most students don't have any means of transportation when they come here and they end up spending unnecessary amounts of money on bus and taxi fares."

Khan and Ashfaq are used to dealing with hardships. The brothers were born and brought up in Jammu and Kashmir, a state located in northern India with a long history of violence and bloodshed. Many people from this region decided to migrate to different countries and other parts of India.

The relationship with the customers is part of the reason Super Bazaar is thriving. Khan said that because of this moving to the States has been the best decision he has made.

"I believe I have changed since I came here," Khan said. "I have learned that if one works hard, there is nothing that anybody can do to stop you from reaching your goal."

Khan now lives happily in Buffalo with his wife and two sons and has no plans to return to India permanently.

Email: features@ubspectrum.com