A vision months in the making is now a reality in Norfolk’s Park Place neighborhood. The New Africa Marketplace officially opened its doors June 7 on 35th Street, bringing African and Islamic culture, locally owned entrepreneurship, and community pride under one roof.
The marketplace is located in what’s known as the 35th Street Business Corridor, an area that has recently seen renewed investment thanks to a city-backed façade improvement grant program. That program, funded through federal stimulus dollars, awarded Imam Ismael Saleem more than $46,000 to help launch the store.
“This place used to be called Shabazz Fashions,” said Saleem, who is also president of the Park Place Business Association and the imam of the mosque next door. “The owners sold it to the masjid and we purchased it. We wanted to continue their legacy, but also to bring something new and exciting to the community.”…