On the west side of Colorado State University’s campus rests a marketplace with products from all over the world, including India, China and Japan.
Rams Bazaar, a new international food market located at 1205 W. Elizabeth St., across from campus offers international food choices to students and community members, both local and domestic.
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“When I was going to school, I wished there was a store like this,” said Niroj Bhattarai, owner of the store.
Bhattarai is originally from Nepal and is now studying to get his doctorate in economics at CSU.
According to Nick Perl, a recent graduate from CSU with a degree in health and art, is a frequent customer at the Bazaar. Perl said Rams Bazaar has unique products that he cannot find in a regular grocery store around town.
“They have spices and products that I can’t buy anywhere else,” Perl said.
Civil engineering graduate student, Kennard Lai from Malaysia, also frequents Rams Bazaar. The prices of the products in the shop are reasonable according to Lai. He can find everything he needs at the store and it’s convenient.
“When I walk in, it smells amazing,” Lai said. “I am always looking for Asian groceries and I went there and found everything I needed.”
Aislinn Phipps, biochemistry freshman, works at the Bazaar and sees a variety of customers every day.
“When you are here, it’s one of the most authentic ways to experience culture,” Phipps said.
According to Bhattarai, customers in the store are about half international and half local, and the most popular product in the store is the Japanese mochi (chewy rice cake) ice cream.
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“One point of the store is to introduce these foods into the community, and it gives international students access to other international food,” Bhattarai said.
Collegian Campus Beat Reporter Megan Fischer can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @MegsFischer04.
