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!"
Zigma Naturals
Owners: Raine & Jerry Manuel; originally from Burma; have owned their own business for 8 months
Languages spoken: Shan (Raine's mother tongue), Tamil (Jerry's mother tongue), & other languages they speak include Burmese, Hindi, Malay, Thai
Payment accepted: Cash and credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover, Mastercard)
Telephone number: (716) 544-7565
About Zigma Naturals: Raine and Jerry carry natural products for skincare for both adults and kids. They also sell vitamins for both adults and kids. Vitamins for memory is a customer favorite. Hindi & Shan traditional clothes, accessories, and everyday clothing are sold at their business as well. Their clothing comes from Burma, Korea, Thailand and the United States.
Raine enjoys getting to meet and talk to people from all around the world. She loves that people come to visit her and that many people love her products.
"This is my first business in the US and being in the Bazaar is training for me, I'm still learning so I can someday open my own store. Also, being in the Bazaar helps me improve my language skills." -Raine Manuel
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
