Optimism by ownership and local leadership is at an all-time high for the newest business in Emporia following an impressive grand opening Wednesday.
The much-anticipated grand opening of El Rio Bravo Supermarket, located at 1324 Industrial Road, took place Wednesday morning and saw a tremendous turnout with hundreds of local residents in attendance. Abdul Halum, who owns the store and its other three locations in Wichita and Kansas City alongside his brother Hakim and uncle Juma Asker, says there had been a great deal of excitement locally for the store’s opening leading up to Wednesday.
After seeing the turnout, including a lengthy line out the door, he says he is very excited about the store’s future in Emporia.
Halum tells KVOE News he and his family chose to open the store in Emporia as they saw an opportunity to provide a needed resource, especially for members of the Hispanic community.
Hakim Halum says the hard-to-find Hispanic beverages, foods and candies are just the tip of the iceberg in what the store has to offer for the entire community.
Rebeca Herrera of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, who has been working closely with Halum and his family in recent months, says before El Rio Bravo, most residents had to drive several hours to find products within the store.
In addition to the access to said products, Herrera believes El Rio Bravo will also bring an extra layer of visibility to Emporia’s strong Hispanic population.
It’s safe to say the local community is already a fan of the new business as many items, including the store’s bakery, were completely sold out in just under 30 minutes after it opened its doors. Photos of the grand opening are available below.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
