Family's new shop brings a taste of Africa to Macclesfield
A new shop has brought the tastes of Africa to Macclesfield.
Jayz African Store on Charlotte Street has welcomed its first customers.
Behind the counter you will find husband and wife Uche and Jess John.
For them, the shop is more than a business. It's a way of contributing to the community.
Jess said: "My passion is people, how we can better the community at large.
"And that's not the Afro-Caribbean or Afro-Asian community, just the Macclesfield community.
"We love the fact that we're able to cater not just to our community but everyone else as well."
She added: "Lots of people are well-travelled or might have heard of these things, like jollof rice, but never tried them, so here's your opportunity.
"Knowledge is power, so I am more than happy to chat with people and explain to them what everything is.
"We're not just here for the African community we're here for the Macclesfield community."
Jess, 34, is a practicing GP while Uche, 33, runs Self Discovery Organization, a charity supporting people in Zimbabwe and his homeland of Nigeria.
They moved to Macclesfield in 2020 and quickly noticed the need for an African shop.
"There was nothing like this when we arrived," Uche said.
"People in the African community were having to travel to Manchester to get African food."
The business started from home, with Jess and Uche taking orders for around 50 to 60 people.
They would go and buy produce in bulk and deliver it to their houses.
On Friday (May 16) they swung open the doors to their new shop.
"Someone was commenting that this is the first time they've seen a lot of black people on this street," said Uche.
"This shop is bringing them out of their hiding places.
"We've also seen a lot of British people, Thai people, Filipinos. A lot of people coming in wanting to try things."
Jayz African Store has a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables, including plantain, okra and scotch bonnets.
You will also find various spices as well as maize, beans and zobo leaves.
There is a fridge full of drinks, including palm wine and Nigerian Fanta, sweeter than what you would get in UK supermarkets.
On the counter is a warmer full of puff-puff, a popular sweet snack in West Africa.
Alongside the food, Jess and Uche are hoping the store can become a platform for other local entrepreneurs.
Jess said: "Everyone from back home has done something else and come here for greener pastures and maybe forfeited what they were doing for another type of job.
"If you have that side business, bring in your leaflets and flyers and I'm more than happy to pop it in our window.
"There's nothing better than being able to work for yourself and have that financial freedom."
You can follow Jayz African Store on Instagram here.
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