In 2019, K&K African Market opened with the goal of making authentic African food more accessible to the Frisco area.

Before K&K opened, some customers would make the hour-long trek to the nearest African grocery store in Dallas to stock up on food for three to four weeks, said Edwin Onwukegwu, who owns the store with his wife, Irene. Now, for many, the same products are within walking distance.

“We discovered that people needed this type of thing in this area,” Edwin said. “When our customers come in, they are always thankful we’ve opened this.”

K&K’s shelves are stocked with food that is popular in many African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Kenya, Edwin said. Variety matters, he said, and as the staff learns about different products customers are interested in, they are added to the shelves.

“We want [people from] every country to come over here and find something that they would like,” he said.

Edwin said he plans to soon expand the market into the open suite next door, offering more products that can be bought in bulk. The main addition, however, will be a kitchen and takeout counter that will serve African food, including jollof rice, which is made with vegetables and meat, soup and the dough-like fufu.The couple hopes to open the expanded space by October of this year, Irene said.

But until then, Edwin said the store is still a valuable resource to those who enjoy African food. The products they need for those dishes cannot be bought just anywhere, he said. Locals having access to those ingredients for themselves and for their families as well as a place to meet and connect with their neighbors is important.

Frisco, one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, welcomes new residents constantly, Edwin said, and new residents looking for African food often find K&K. People new to the area connect with other new transplants, and frequent shoppers bump into each other and catch up, he said.

At the end of the day, Edwin said he wants to make customers happy.

K&K African Market

307 Main St., Ste. 210, Frisco

214-494-2553

www.kandkafricanmarket.net

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sun. 1-6 p.m.