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Our Story: From Refugee Camp to Cedar Rapids' First African Market
Over two decades ago, Cedar Rapids had zero African grocery stores. Today, Imani Market stands as a testament to resilience, community, and the power of comfort food to create those "wow" moments that connect us to home.
A Journey of Resilience and Community
My name is Goretti Mujawimana, and I'm honored to share our story with you. Our family moved to Cedar Rapids over 20 years ago from a refugee camp, having left our home country during the genocide of 1994. Like many refugees, we went through resettlement programs, learning about big cities versus small cities, weighing living costs, safety, education, and opportunities.
When we arrived in Cedar Rapids over two decades ago, there were few immigrant families from Africa and zero African grocery stores. I remember our excitement when we discovered the Asian market — we were overjoyed to find familiar foods, our childhood favorites, comfort food, soul food that creates those "wow" moments that connect you to home.
Growing up, I watched my grandfather run businesses. That entrepreneurial spirit was in our blood, but language barriers, losing everything, and lack of resources, support, and mentorship created a disconnection. Despite all those odds, we opened Aaron's Market — Cedar Rapids' first African-owned African grocery store, located at 707 3rd Avenue SE, on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 7th Street SE in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Today we continue that legacy as Imani Market — "Imani" means "faith" in Swahili. When my father retired, we took over the business and rebranded, honoring his pioneering spirit while expanding our selection, services, and community impact. That rich history continues to shape how we serve our customers today.
What Makes Us Different
We know what our customers like, how they like it, when, and why. That's what distinguishes Imani Market from our competitors.
Quality & Quantity
We provide high-quality comfort food in appropriate quantities. Unlike big box stores that shift away from human connection, we offer the right fit for our community.
Superior Customer Service
Customer service tailored to our specific community — second to none in Cedar Rapids. We understand language barriers and cultural differences because we've lived them.
More Than a Store
We're here to ease difficulties immigrants face: transportation issues, unfamiliar areas, language barriers, social stressors. We help with letters, applications, and support in any way we can.
Building Community, One Customer at a Time
We've established strong relationships with resettlement centers, interpretation companies like Hands Up and Humble, and many other organizations that serve our community. We work with WIC programs and welcome every new refugee family coming to Cedar Rapids.
People come to our store asking what letters mean, needing help filling out applications, seeking all kinds of assistance. Some even ask for food help, as if we were a food pantry — and we're happy to help. We can easily relate to the struggles they're facing because we've been there.
Cedar Rapids has become a welcoming place to live, with a resettlement center and organizations recognizing the need here. We're proud to be part of that growth, serving not just to make a living, but to make a difference.
"When the opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade."
Ready to shop African groceries?
Browse our collection of authentic African foods, spices, clothing, and more. Visit us in Cedar Rapids or shop online for delivery across Eastern Iowa.