BRIDGEPORT - Francis An's life straddles many cultures.
After growing up in Korea, he lived in Argentina as a young adult. He then moved to New York, where he now lives and runs his business, Food Bazaar.
That operation is now assuming a Connecticut dimension as An opens a Food Bazaar supermarket here this month. It is his first store in the state.
Along with the supermarket's ethnically rich combination of culinary offerings, An brings 175 jobs to the local community.
Located at 500 Sylvan Ave. in a former Shaw's supermarket, the newest Food Bazaar was at press time slated to have its grand opening May 6.
Most positions in the 61,000-square-foot facility are filled, says An.
"We are fully staffed at the moment, but could use a couple of meat cutters and several produce clerks with supermarket experience," he says. "We will be replacing any fallout as it occurs [but] we have a backlog of over 800 applications. Applicants can apply by stopping by the store and speaking to the store manager."
Known for its ethnically diverse selection of groceries and fresh produce, Food Bazaar features authentic mainstays of Asian, West Indian, African and Hispanic cuisine. The Bridgeport store also will house a tortilleria for freshly made tortillas, custom-cut meats, a vast array of fresh seafood, full-service deli with prepared foods, in-store bakery and a broad selection of natural products.
"If a customer requests a certain product, we will do out best to get it for them," says An. "Our motto is: 'If we wouldn't buy it for our families, we won't sell it to yours.' We take immense pride in offering our customers the widest possible selection of uniquely ethnic food from all over the globe, as well as an extensive selection of mainstream products."
The family-owned business, which operates under the Brooklyn-based d/b/a Bogopa Service Corp., was launched in 1988. After arriving in New York, An observed that mainstream supermarkets largely ignored the food preferences of immigrants and minorities. He could not find ingredients for the Latin American dishes he had come to savor while living in Argentina, much less for cuisine from his native Korea. Seeking to fill the void, An opened his first store in Queens, N.Y. Other supermarkets in New York followed, and he soon expanded the chain to New Jersey. The Bridgeport supermarket brings the number of Food Bazaar stores to 16.
Bogopa means "yearning for you" in Korean. An says it represents Food Bazaar's "yearning" to be a good neighbor, reliable provider of ethnic food products, and positive community influence.
The store's community involvement includes providing scholarships to area high school students, donating food and supplies to local organizations, and partnering with nonprofits to provide food and medical care to needy individuals, says An.
Food Bazaar's foray into Connecticut comes at a time when another chain, Shaw's, has chosen to close many of its stores, including one in New Haven. An says there are no plans at this time to establish a New Haven Food Bazaar - the current focus is squarely on the Park City. However, he doesn't rule out a future possibility.
"We continue to look for underserved, minority or immigrant communities to expand into," says An, "because we understand the importance high-quality food plays in raising a family and preserving one's culture."
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