[ad_1]
AMHERST — Sri Lankan immigrants who moved to town 17 years ago have opened Big Basket Market, a grocery store and takeout with an Asian theme.
The business in the Riverside Park plaza at 19 Montague Road (Route 63) in North Amherst opened Aug. 1. It is owned by wife and husband Fathima R. Rizwan and Riswan M. Raufdeen.
Raufdeen said the location was chosen due to it being near a bus stop and in walking distance of the University of Massachusetts. Business has been brisk, especially with international students, he said, and neighbors have welcomed the family-run store.
“This is my family, my wife, my kids,” said Raufdeen, who previously managed gas station convenience stores and worked in construction.
The couple’s eldest child graduated from Amherst Regional High School in June and will be attending the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester this fall. Another child is still in high school and the youngest is in elementary school.
“We came to Amherst 17 years ago from Sri Lanka. Our family and friends travel to Hartford in order to find the bulk spices and cooking ingredients we like. We’re excited to introduce locally-available ingredients for all people who enjoy international food,” Rizwan said in a written statement.
Items sold at Big Basket Market include an assortment of spices available in bulk, as well as rice, noodles, beans and chocolate. Fruits and vegetables are available, along with soft drinks, snacks, bamboo plants and Asian jewelry. Frozen items include naan, roti, samosas and kebab.
Big Basket also offers for takeout prepared food from Indian, Pakistani, Arabic and Chinese recipes.
The store is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. It will accept orders by telephone at 413-230-3494, and will make deliveries within a 5-mile radius for purchases of $100 or more.
[ad_2]
Source_link
