Amir Jafari Berenji is not giving himself many breaks in his effort to make his new Main Street supermarket a success.
Jafari Berenji is working seven days a week at his new namesake store, JB Supermarket, at 30 Main St. South, offering an array of food, including international products from the Persian community.
Jafari Berenji said he is trying to fill a void as the only supermarket on the street. He hopes to make it a 24/7 store to serve those on night shifts, such as hospital workers. But without enough traffic for that yet, he is managing his store from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“The start of a business, you do have to sacrifice,” he said. “But we’re hoping to meet our goal. It’s all for the future. For the future of us, the future of Newmarket."
The new store is independent and smaller than a typical grocery store, but Jafari Berenji said he hopes to expand, and have multiple stores over time.
Jafari Berenji previously worked in the kitchen of Eagle Terrace Long-Term Care Home in Newmarket. But he said he wanted to make a change with no more opportunity for career advancement there.
“As a family, we’ve always been in food,” he said. “We know a lot about food, between safety and how to keep good food, and keep it fresh for everybody to enjoy.”
Jafari Berenji said he is working to fill the shop with the products his customers want. He said he takes requests for items to stock, adding products like seafood.
“We want to ask people what they want, what their desire is,” he said. “We are trying to move with the community and see what they want so we can provide that for them.”
Saba Iousi, who lives across the street from the store, said it has had a very good start. She said she likes shopping for items found in her home country of Iraq, without having to travel further away.
“It’s our food,” she said.
“There’s always different things you can be introduced to, that you might love,” Jafari Berenji said of his international wares. “I just thought it would be a great idea to bring this and present this to the community.”
He said his customer service should give people a reason to shop there.
“We will go to the ends to get the stuff for you. We will definitely try to make you happy,” he said. “And make sure to keep you coming back.”
