It's been over 10 years since Hammed Abdi landed in Canada, leaving Afghanistan and his family behind.
Since moving to Cambridge for more opportunities and a chance at a better life, he found himself searching for community and missing his family back home.
After finding success as a mortgage broker, Abdi knew he wanted to do something to uplift those around him and create a hub for his community.
In August he opened Abdimart, a Halal grocery store at 124 Bishop St. N. full of Afghani-specific foods, treats and household items not available anywhere else in the region.
Abdi adds that the idea for the store came out of the need to foster a community here for newcomers, as he himself knows what it's like to be homesick and feel isolated from the rest of the community.
"We saw the larger picture and knew that we could do something special," said Abdi as he stood in front of the cash register in his store. "We could make money doing anything in business, but this is more than that. We want to help people feel at home."
For years, Abdi described the feeling of missing his family and his home. It wasn't until he was able to connect with others in the Muslim community here in the city and find others who knew the struggles of moving to a new country that he felt any semblance of home.
During the collapse of the government in Afghanistan he was able to sponsor his brothers and their families, bringing them to Canada.
"When we were all together it finally felt like home," said Abdi. "Me and some friends came together and I basically sponsored my whole family."
In total, Abdi's five brothers and their families along with his mother all joined him in Canada. Three of his brothers now run and operate the store that bears their family's surname.
The goal for the brothers is to expand on the already growing Muslim community here in Cambridge and be a beacon for those looking for a home.
Abdi's wife wrote a book on the importance of finding community in those around you, especially after moving to a new country.
"There are other people that don't have the luxury for whatever reason they can't sponsor their families and bring them over," he said. "There is something missing."
Abdi notes that there are so many resources in places like Toronto, but not many here in the region, specifically for the Afghani community. He looks to carry things like dried fruit, non-perishable food items and sweets from his home country, to give the old market vibe.
"I don't know why, but these things just don't taste the same if you were to buy them from the big stores," he said as he held a small jar of saffron.
Abdimart is right across the street from NoFrills, but due to their obligations and franchise, they can only carry certain things. Abdi hopes to bridge the gap and offer something different.
"Our emphasis is on the sense of belonging and nurturing this vibrant community, especially as many more people from Afghanistan come to Canada," he said.
