Tropical Tastes and Styles International Market in Bangor, offering international food, hair braiding services, custom wig making and African clothing announced Thursday it’s closing its doors for good.
Angela Okafor, a former Bangor city councilor, lawyer, fashion designer and hair stylist, launched the Harlow Street business in 2017, but took a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for her three young children.
Okafor, a Nigerian-American, reopened Tropical Tastes in 2022, but closed the grocery store portion of the business in August 2023, citing “life and health challenges” in recent years.
Okafor announced the business’ permanent closure in a Facebook post on Thursday, but did not include details on when its final day will be.
At its peak, Tropical Tastes offered dry, frozen and refrigerated goods commonly used in West African, Caribbean and Latin American cuisine, as well as Okafor’s hair braiding services and handmade, self-designed apparel.
Aside from offering products and services, Okafor’s store served as a beacon for immigrants and people of color living in Bangor to come and feel connected.
