Kwasi Owusu paced throughout his store collecting items off the shelf to stow away or ship out for delivery to his clients. Much of the store’s inventory remained intact behind the register and glass counter.
Timbuk Tu African Imports was a one-stop shop for authentic African products in Syracuse’s Southside for the last 30 years. But Owusu, who has called Syracuse his home his entire adult life, has chosen to close the staple on South Avenue and will stop taking orders in early February.
“I wish somebody can continue with it,” Owusu said of the store. “But nobody wants to continue.”
Owusu has been a staple on the Southwest side of Syracuse. He opened Timbuk Tu in 1992 after seven years running a record store. He got the idea for Timbuk Tu from the record store’s customers who were interested in purchasing imported items from Africa.
He’s closing the store now because he’s tired. His wife, Gwendolyn Owusu, already retired, and he wants to travel and spend more time with his family, Owusu said.