When Amar Das began stocking shelves in preparation for the opening of South Asian Mart Food and Fashion on Loudon Road, it was in the midst of a pandemic. On November 14, 2020, Das opened his own shop and new business venture alongside his younger brother his Dal Das and ‘cousin brother’ his Krishna Darjee.

Some customers came, but not many. The four aisles mainly stocked Nepali and Indian food items. Slowly their product grew and so did their sales.

The three business owners are now meeting regular customers traveling from Manchester and Rochester. Their shelves are lined with Thai, Japanese and Korean staples, with a growing inventory of Nepali and Indian dishes.

For Amar, he learns by operating cash registers and inventory shelves.

“I’ve never done this kind of business, not only here, but in my country,” he said. “But my cousin’s brother had an idea, and I’m helping him reach his goal.”

To display their own wares, the owners drive 260 miles (approximately 260 miles) to New York City, where more vendors sell goods native to their native Nepal. The trek takes just over five hours each way. We often leave on Wednesday morning, spend the day shopping, and spend the night at a hotel before returning on Thursday.

Flour inventory alone demonstrates a range of products beyond the grocery store shelf. Rice, sattu, juwar, chapati, barley, white rice, yellow corn, and white corn flour are some of the many variations available.

This store offers more than just produce and South Asian novelties. In the back, Amar’s father runs a tailor shop, with sewing machines set up for clothing modifications.

Kitchen utensils are also sold, and the first aisle in the store is lined with rice cookers, kitchen knives, and tableware.

In the back is a Western Union kiosk where you can send and receive money overseas. At the entrance of the store there is a Bitstop ATM where you can buy bitcoins.

The store is a way for the Das brothers and Darzee to help Concord’s growing immigrant community. Amar Das he immigrated from Nepal in 2010 and graduated from Concord High School.

Before the store opened, a customer told the Das brothers that he was driving to Boston just to get one specific item that wasn’t on the shelves of grocery stores around here.

“It’s good to help our community,” Amar said. “We do our best to carry what they need.”

When Mitchell Lama walked in with her father on Wednesday, an alarm went off saying “front door opened.” 3-year-old Mitchell played with monkey plastic candy while his dad shopped. His father gave him a coin to put on the counter to pay for the candy before shaking his hand and saying goodbye.

Amar gets to know regular customers who come mainly on weekends. But more often than not, more people return to the store after their first visit. New faces are also appearing one after another.

“We’re getting new customers every week. It’s a good way to build our business,” he said.

And the range of customers varies. Amar sees many new Americans looking for ingredients from their home countries, and he also sees a South Asian American spouse trying to recreate the cuisine for his family. I’m here. Even college students would come in — they’d love to stock up on instant noodles, he joked.

After a slow start, the Das brothers and Darzee continue to grow their new business inventory and customer base at the height of the pandemic in the rear-view mirror.

“We’re still learning. We’re not perfect. This is a small business,” says Amar. “Our customers, we are grateful and appreciate you visiting.”