Style Blueprint
Thursday March 21, 2019
By Lisa Hornung
Ismail Ali and his wife, Farhiyo Mohamud, are pictured in their store, Farhiyo’s Fashions, in the International Mall. The couple are from Kismayo, Somalia.
Few Americans travel to Africa and even fewer have been to Somalia.
But you can get a taste of African and international culture and goods
right here in Louisville at the International Mall at Eighth and York
streets.
A large warehouse-type building is separated into small rooms housing
several businesses, including shops, tailors, groceries and even a
barber, all owned by independent business owners who come together to
support each other. If you’ve ever traveled to a country with a market
area or medina, you’ll recognize the small stalls that use every inch of
space to store and display wares. Brightly colored rugs, dresses and
curtains line the walls and hang from the ceilings. There are beautiful
golden tea sets, plates and stackable cookware, alongside faux flower
arrangements and beautiful headscarves.
Most of the shop owners in the building are Somali, as the mall was
started by some Somali friends who saw a need for people to be able to
support themselves. “But there are American, Bangladeshi, Ugandan,
Congolese and many other cultures in the building,” says Ismail Ali,
whose wife, Farhiyo Mohamud, owns Farhiyo’s Fashions in the building.
Ismail and Farhiyo are from Kismayo, a port town in Southern Somalia.
Ismail and Farhiyo fled Somalia and lived in South Africa for many
years where they owned businesses. But the crime and chaos in the
country made things difficult for business. “The business was good in
South Africa, but there was looting, vandalizing, killing … every single
minute you would have arrests,” says Ismail. “You see a person put an
item in his pocket now, is he going to pull out his gun or his money?
You will be in battle all day. In the nighttime, they come over the
roof. While you are sleeping, you have done everything for safety in
your house, but they cut a hole in the roof and they come in and demand
all your money. Sometimes they take the money and kill you and set fire
to the house.”
The shelves of Hamdi are stocked with clothing, scarves and purses. The store is owned by Abiba Manoor.
Farhiyo, who was also a business owner back in Somalia, got to
Louisville with their daughter first, but it took longer for Ismail to
join her because of extensive immigration paperwork. After four years
apart, he finally reunited with them in Louisville. They both initially
worked in warehouse jobs, but Farhiyo, who is still suffering the
effects of beatings she endured in South Africa, struggled with her
health, and standing at the warehouse all day was too difficult for her.
So Ismail, who is also part-owner of Safari International Grocery
Store, used his entrepreneurial know-how to help her set up Fahriyo’s
Fashions in the International Mall, where she sells clothing, scarves,
perfumes and more.
Ismail and Farhiyo left nine of their children behind in Somalia and
regularly send them money from their earnings in the United States. But
as you talk to this couple, you would have no inkling of the pain
they’ve endured — they are kind and effusive, eager to welcome you into
their extended family and help you find what you need.
When you walk into the International Mall, you are likely to be
greeted with a, “Hello, sister. What are you looking for?” by one of the
many women who own businesses in the mall.
One such owner, Abiba Manoor, is a native of Mogadishu, Somalia. She
came to the United States 17 years ago, and her store, Hamdi, has been
in the mall since it opened in 2008. Abiba says that the mall offers
items that you can’t find anywhere else in Louisville. “We are
international businesses,” she says. “We are different from American
businesses. In our shops, you can find different things.”
Many perfume options are available at Farhiyo’s Fashions.
Ismail said the camaraderie of the mall forms a support system, too.
“They are our brothers and sisters; we stay together all through the
day,” he says. “If you need change, you go to your friend and get change
from him. It’s a part of integration.”
Ismail was a farmer back home and owned about 50 acres of land. He
grew mangoes, coconuts, corn, beans and other fruits and vegetables, and
he wishes he could go back home someday.
“I would be very much happy to go back to see my land,” he says.
“Now, I’ve got a lot of knowledge. There are so many things I could
plant now and make a lot of money.” As a farmer in Somalia, he was able
to make good money. “To get $10 is very hard here,” he says.
Ismail and Farhiyo continue to work to grow their businesses and
reach for their part of the American Dream. They want people to know
about their businesses and to come explore and shop the International
Mall.
“I would like to let people know there is a business here — a small
business,” says Ismail. “And we would like people to buy from us. We
opened for them; we didn’t open just for other Somalis. We opened for
the community. We are here in America. We need people to come here and
buy things from us. So instead of going to a big shopping mall, come
here to see people who will appreciate your support and be happy to have
you.”
The International Mall is at 737 S 8th St, Louisville, KY 40203.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. To learn more, call (502) 561-8871.