Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

Agil Leel and his wife opened their business Sharif Store in 2015 at 2607 Independence Avenue — relocating from its former location along Lexington Avenue, where it operated for 12 years, according to its website, as the family was searching for a larger space. 

However, Sharif — a family name  — was not the first store the two owned. Leel found himself immersed within the business scene in Somalia, East Africa, his wife shared, before the family came to Kansas City in 1996. 

Family remains at the foundation of this Avenue business, not only with its name, but also with its associates as Leel’s wife shared herself, her husband and their children are the business’s sole employees. 

“It’s special working with [my] family and kids,” she said in an interview.

However, she shared her favorite aspect of owning a business within the Northeast is the community and various cultures they serve. 

“We get to see a lot of people from different countries,” Leel’s wife said in an interview. 

As far as products go, Sharif Store offers African and Middle Eastern style home decor items. While she shared the business started out by selling flowers and perfumes, it has expanded to include furniture from bed frames, rugs and vases, among other items. However, perfume and flowers are two products, which are still available for customers. 

Leel’s wife shared she does not have a favorite product they sell at Sharif Store. Rather, the business will offer items based on what their clientele is looking for. 

“Whatever customers ask for, we bring for them,” she said. “Whatever is popular in the market we will bring for them.”

Products available at Sharif Store, she shared, are mainly imported from overseas providers in locations including Turkey and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

For additional information on Sharif Store, visit its website: https://www.refugekc.org/goods.html or visit its location from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday or from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at 2607 Independence Ave.