I can't believe I'm the first to review this great little business, which opened in walking disance…read morethe same year I got an apartment on Elmwood near Summer(2006). I was a regular the 2+ years I lived in that location, picking up jewelry & shea butter and chatting with the super friendly owner. I just revisited it after several years away (I live in Black Rock - like anyone on Yelp doesn't know, har har, and don't get to EV much) and was excited to see that not only was it still there, it's flourishing.
Ambiance/service - The store is in the back side corner of a non-descript brick building, sharing a small urban "strip mall" of sorts - with Elmwood Market (formerly DVD Dot), a laundromat and a nail place occupying the street-facing shops. It is small and has that market feel common to small, indie ethnic shops without being dingy, dirty or cramped (a la Manar's, now closed). The space is very clean and much better organized than when they first opened seven years ago.
Products - The store focuses on traditional African and African-incluenced clothing and accessories, including jewelry, clothing, hats, home decor, instruments, beauty products (shea butter, black soap), scarves and even fabric to make clothes (sold by the 6 yard piece). On my most recent trip I bought a beautiful cream and aqua stone necklace with silver accents - it has a really quality heft and look, with excellent craftsmanship, and set me back less than $25; it was a small price to pay considering teeny bopper mall chain stores charge $12-20 for similar, less quality necklaces. The store also carries a small assortment of African foods and a variety of less traditional clothing that still fits with the shop's vibe. The store has expanded into the spot next to them, with this shop focusing on handbags and accessories. I did not pop in this side, though the owner offered to open it for me, but I took a long gander through the window and it looked clean, well-organized and full of goodies.
