Maryland's Ethnic Foodways celebrates our state’s diverse peoples, cultures, and communal histories by exploring perhaps the most meaning-laden yet most readily shared ethnic experience of tasting the dishes and foods of other peoples. This public history project involves two phases: a class in which UMD students conduct research and develop digital projects showcasing the stories of local ethnic food business which are viewable from the online archive platform.

Join us in learning about and savoring the many flavors and foodways and the diverse Marylanders who lovingly prepare them.

  • ExhibitFamily BusinessGrocery...2 more

    Manila Mart

    Manila Mart is a Filipino grocery store and restaurant in Beltsville, Maryland serving the larger DMV area. The student researchers—Elena D, Colin T., and Amari S. interviewed the owner, Toni-Rose Bioc, a third-generation food entrepreneur who took over the business from her parents in 2015. Toni-Rose’s family’s business roots go back even further, to her grandparents owning a shop in the Philippines.

    Manila Mart began as a grocery store but under Toni-Rose’s management has since evolved into a multifaceted community hub offering traditional Filipino staples like halo-halo, pancit canton, and ube ice cream, along with catering, a hot bar, and even bubble tea. And as the business grew, so did its offerings. The Biocs began to adapt to customer demand by adding seating, Korean and Japanese snacks, and fusion items like sisig tacos and fries.

    Toni-Rose shares the challenges of managing staff, maintaining cultural authenticity, and navigating regulatory and economic pressures, from FDA sodium limits and tariffs to pandemic-era inflation. Remittances, a vital practice in immigrant culture, are another service that Manila Mart offers, helping customers send money to relatives back home.

    At its core, Manila Mart remains a family-run business dedicated to preserving and sharing Filipino culture

  • ExhibitGrocerySoutheast Asia

    Angkor Supermarket

    Angkor Supermarket of Takoma Park, Maryland is owned and managed by Michael, who immigrated to the United State from Eritrea in 1991 and took over the store in 2018. Despite not being Southeast Asian himself, Michael chose to preserve the store’s original identity and mission. To this day, he continues to serve the DMV region’s growing Southeast Asian community with trusted ingredients and familiar foods.

    Michael emphasizes maintaining customer trust by retaining original staff, honoring traditions, and stocking essential items like fish sauce, pork belly, and duck. Angkor Supermarket is not just a place to shop and serves the Langley Park, Wheaton, and Takoma Park communities as a social space where customers grow up, bring their children, and sometimes even become vendors themselves.

    Michael and his wife, Tigi, now incorporate many of the market’s Southeast Asian staples into their own cooking, reflecting the cultural blending of their neighborhood. Despite inflation and tariff challenges, they continue to price items manually and strive to keep costs low.

  • ExhibitFamily BusinessGrocery...1 more

    Guru Groceries and Chaat House

    Deepak and Madhu Khemka are the husband-and-wife team behind Guru Groceries and Chaat House in Bethesda, Maryland. For the Khemkas, their business isn’t just a market—it’s a “Chat House,” a vibrant cultural space where foods associated with home acts as a bridge between tradition and community. As Deepak puts it, “This becomes like India for them,” offering comfort and connection for immigrants making lives in the DMV, experiences that the Khemkas have personally experienced.

    They immigrated through family ties. In the course of pursuing educational and business ventures, the Khemkas opened several restaurants before establishing their market. Guru Groceries now serves a broad, loyal customer base, including Indian and Pakistani immigrants, college students, and curious food lovers from all backgrounds. They stock everything from fresh curry leaves and regional Indian spices to Chinese sauces and Japanese noodles. The Khemkas especially pride themselves on personalized service. Madhu takes special product requests, tracks down hard-to-find items like Indian mangoes, and has even taught Indian cooking classes. Located near the Red Line, the market provides a hub for cultural exchange and community-building.

  • ExhibitAfricaFamily Business...2 more

    Eko International Store

    Student researchers Madison R., Trin T,, Kenan W., and Travis H. speak with Benny, owner of Eko International Store in Chillum, Maryland. Eko is a Nigerian grocery store serving the local West African community.

    Benny shares her journey of taking over the business from her brother, and how her daughter, Deborah, has helped to bridge generations and update the store’s offerings by advising on products that appeal to both loyal customers and younger, more experimental shoppers. Fluent in multiple languages, Deborah also helps navigate cultural and linguistic barriers, strengthening community trust.

    This podcast explores the cultural and economic importance of traditional African products like the kola nut and other imports that are central to West African foodways but increasingly difficult to provisions with shifting U.S. tariffs and the weakening of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Benny reflects on the challenges of sustaining Eko amidst these challenges, and the uncertain future of the store once she steps away.

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