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April 30, 2010
Okanagan Jews have choices
Kosher food and Judaica store has shoppers lining up.
BAILA LAZARUS
Kelowna residents looking for a source for kosher products and Judaica have a brand new option. Mem’s Kosher Food and Holyland Treasures has just opened as the Okanagan’s first kosher food and Judaica shop.
Run by Michele Troup and Mila Shapiro, two longtime members of the Okanagan Jewish Community, the store has received tremendous support from Jews and non-Jews alike.
“It’s a passion of our heart and something we truly believe in,” Troup told the Jewish Independent in an interview from Kelowna. “We’re really here to make a difference and make it easier to be Jewish.”
Troup, whose parents came to the Okanagan more than 30 years ago, and Shapiro, who moved with her family from Israel, both raised their children in Kelowna. They were concerned that the Jewish values they grew up with were not being passed down to the next generation.
“I find it was also hard to raise my children here because there aren’t that many Jewish traditions – not much kosher food, not much Judaica,” said Shapiro, who is originally from Russia.
“When you’re here, you don’t know how hard it is [to be Jewish],” echoed Troup. “We have to work twice as hard here.”
So the two came up with the idea of opening their own store, even though they had no background in retail.
“We thought, ‘If we build it, they will come,’” Troup said.
The reaction to the store, which opened March 15, just in time for Passover, has been instant.
“Passover was wonderful,” said Troup. “The Jewish community was very supportive. We sold out of our matzah in two days and had to order more.”
Among its food offerings are kosher meats, chicken, gefilte fish and herring, as well as knishes and desserts. They now have plans to open a deli, offering salads, sandwiches and a “good kosher pickle,” said Troup. “When’s the last time you had a good kosher pickle on a stick?”
Asked if they plan to transform the store into a restaurant with seating, Troup said that would require a special licence, which they’re not sure they’re ready to get.
“We’re taking it slowly. We want to make sure this is the niche we want to fulfil,” she said.
Though the road has been difficult, fate seemed to be on their side.
“We had the blessings of God every step of the way,” said Troup. “When we thought we couldn’t find a place, all of a sudden a door opened. Things happened at such a remarkable rate, I can’t tell you.”
Their biggest challenge has been shipping – from Montreal, Winnipeg and New York. For overseas shipping they need a brokerage firm and an importer/exporter licence. As well, because the retail business is so new for the two of them, knowing how much inventory to stock is a learning experience. “We’re riding the wave,” said Troup.
Having been volunteers in the Jewish community, the two women had no problem finding mentors. They had several supporters ready to step up and help, especially from the OJC’s members of the board.
One of the women’s friends – internationally known artist Elizabeth Dykosky – even contacted them because she wanted to paint a tree of life for their store. Her artwork now graces the wall at the entrance to the retail outlet.
“Everyone has always had words of advice and encouragement,” Troup said. Omnitsky’s and Solly’s in Vancouver have also been very helpful. And both the women’s families have pitched in with “sweat equity.”
Troup said many people have been dropping into the store to pick up supplies, but also out of curiosity, especially non-Jews interested in learning more about kosher food.
“There’s the curious, the interested, the passionate,” Troup said, adding that demographics show there are more than 1,000 Jewish people between Vancouver and Calgary. “But I have yet to see them for the High Holy Days,” she laughed.
Discussing how they came up with the name for the store, Troup explained: “When Mila and I picked the name, we thought, well, my name starts with a mem [the Hebrew letter], and her name starts with a mem, but when we looked into what it meant, we were both very surprised it was a female letter that represented new birth and new beginnings, and it was the very first thing that God had created.”
Their logo is actually two mems back to back.
“Mila and I have very much the same passion and love for our culture and religious beliefs, but we’re extremely opposite people. So, the two mems are reversed, with the Star of David uniting the two of us.”
Located at 3010 Pandosy St., Mem’s is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Call 778-478-0422 for more information.
Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, painter and photographer. Her work can be seen at orchiddesigns.net.
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