Former Bhutan Refugee Creates International Marketplace in Keene

Keene International Market’s roots go back about three or four years when Chuda Mishra and his wife, Jennifer Carrol, helped to organize the first Keene International Festival.

“It’s all connected somehow,” says Mishra, a former refugee from Bhutan who came to NH in 2009. “That’s where I saw a lot of people from different backgrounds coming together.

“That’s what prompted me to think: I wish there was a place where people could meet more often.”

The couple started Keene International Marketplace online in April 2021 but moved the store into its current physical location in September 2021. They learned firsthand how quickly the state’s demographics are changing based on demand.

“We started hoping that because we knew a lot of Indian people in the area, we’d start strong,” Mishra says. “Over 50% of our store was all Indian products.

“Then we learned there was a bigger [Indian] store opening in the Nashua area,” he continues. “So, we had to change our community profile to fit here.”

Now, his products cater to Indians, Filipinos, Thai, Scandinavians and more. He says Keene International Market is the only brick-and-mortar location where many can find the products of their homeland in northern New England.

Mishra says that as NH diversifies, places like Keene International Market will be critical in keeping newer populations around.

“For example, there used to be a much bigger Indian community, but a lot of them are moving out ’cause it’s hard to find culturally appropriate food,” he says. “This store is playing a role to keep certain people here, because food plays a big part of people’s life.”

Of course, there are some challenges. The relatively small size of his store and the diverse communities he serves means that he purchases from over 45 distributors. “The crazy thing is we all like different brands,” Mishra says. “I have 10 different kinds of basmati rice and it’s like: Come on! It’s basmati!”

He says that he hopes to serve prepared foods and expand the store’s product offerings and size in the next five years. “Opening new places like this, people feel they can stick around,” he says.