Flavia's Business
Owner: Flavia Mutoni
Languages spoken: Kinyarwanda, English
Payments accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Flavia’s Business was started by Flavia Mutoni as a way to bring quality African, Middle Eastern, and Asian clothing to her family and friends here in the US. Flavia personally selects the clothing, purses, bags, and decorative items she imports; ensuring they are of the best quality. She also makes and sells braids and decorative hair pieces. Flavia speaks 6 different languages allowing her to communicate more efficiently with the growing immigrant and refugee community in the Greater Buffalo Area.
Gadget Bazaar
Owner: Romala Rajendran; originally from Sri Lanka; has owned her own business for 1 year; has been in Buffalo for 10 years
Languages spoken: Sinhala, Tamil, English
Payments accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 400-4899
About Gadget Bazaar: Romala sells a variety of products from Sri Lanka. She sells children clothing, jewelry, handbags, hair accessories, and Hindu religious items from Sri Lanka. Her beautiful jewelry, especially the necklaces and earrings, are a huge customer favorite.
Romala Rajendran is very satisfied when customers are excited about her Sri Lankan products. She enjoys hearing her customers say how pleased they are with her designs and patterns. She also loves speaking with customers because it gives her an opportunity to learn conversational English. In the words of Romala: "I am a people person!"
Moonlady Arts & Crafts
Owner: Ma Theint; originally from Burma; has been in Buffalo for 11 years
About Moonlady Arts & Crafts: Ma Theint sells arts and crafts from her country such as gem paintings, lacquerware, traditional puppets, and Burmese musical instruments. She also sells clothes, accessories, and religious items.
Words from Ma Theint on how she ended up starting her own shop in the Bazaar: "I wanted to start my own business before I retired, in the future I want to open my own Asian market. I have big dreams!"
For more information on Moonlady Arts & Crafts, and how/why she ended up in Buffalo NY check out her interview on Buffalo Rising.
Languages spoken: Burmese, English
Payment accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 951-2386
