BROOKLYN — After a quarter-century on Myrtle Avenue, Owa Afrikan Market has departed Clinton Hill for even bigger digs in Bed-Stuy.
The market, which sells authentic clothing and goods from Africa, closed the doors to its 434 Myrtle Ave. shop Wednesday while moving to a larger space at 1666 Broadway.
Laura Osagie, who co-owns the business with husband, Kennedy, said they found out in March their lease would not be renewed due to rising property values.
While the relocation wasn’t planned, Osagie said it has given the popular market a chance to expand.
“I realized that the place was too small for me now and it was actually time to move on,” she said.
At 1,800 square feet, the new shop can hold more than twice as much as the former location, which was only 620 square feet.
She also said the new address is closer to many of her fans.
“Most of my customers come from this area,” she said. “So I’m happy to be around them.”
Owa Afrikan Market's new location at 1666 Broadway in Bedford-Stuyvesant. (Credit: DNAinfo/Alexandra Leon)
Osagie opened Owa — which means "home" in the Edo language — on July 4, 1994, after she was fired from her previous job for having an accent, she said. Back then, the Nigeria native said she couldn’t have imagined being in the Myrtle Avenue storefront for more than a few years.
When the market first opened, she only had one shelf.
“I didn’t know I would be there for that long,” Osagie said. “I am very grateful. I am not unhappy.”
Now, the Osagies new store has dozens of shelves holding textiles, arts and crafts, food, musical instruments, fragrances, movies and books — all bought in Nigeria and shipped to Brooklyn.
The shop owners will continue to run Owa’s online store, which ships nationwide to customers as far away as California.
Osagie said she hopes to keep growing the business and making lasting friendships through a growing customer base.
“My customers are my friends, they are family, because they put their money in my hands,” she said. “They trust the goods they buy from me.”
