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Safari Market
According to The Horn of Africa, almost 8,000 Somalis live in the community around El Cajon Boulevard. It is no surprise that the Boulevard is now home to the Safari Market, the first African Bazaar located in San Diego. For a long time, there wasn't a space available for the East African community to shop, socialize or start a business. Similar models have opened in Columbus, Ohio and Minneapolis, Minnesota, but with the high value of real estate in Mid City, the Horn of Africa spent years coordinating and garnering community support to get this project off the ground.
The Horn of Africa is the lead community-based organization providing San Diego's East African refugee and immigrant community opportunities to assume self-sufficiency. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to offer people work, not just for personal gain, but to support the entire household. Many Somalis have the experience of owning a business in Africa, but it took a number of brave individuals to start all over in a foreign country. The Horn of Africa wanted to develop an appropriate market that was cost-effective for business start-ups and their work has paid off. There are now thirty-five booths being leased, with only two vacant spaces.
The Safari Market offers an array of east African goods, such as clothing, shoes, jewelry and music. Services, such as money wiring, a barber shop, and a wholesale food distributor are also available. They even have a shoe store referred to as the "Somali Footlocker!" With a limited number of Somali restaurants in San Diego, African Spice is a popular place for yummy sambousa, a Somali dish similar to a spring roll made with ground beef, spices and vegetables which are folded into a triangular shape. The beef, lamb or fish with a side of rice is also delicious. Culturally appropriate goods available at the Safari Market helps the community of first generation Somalis remain connected with their homeland and simultaneously assists the progression of El Cajon Boulevard as a thriving multi-cultural center.
The Safari Market is open from 2pm to 8:30pm seven days a week.
