Owner Jeferson Lima, his family and local officials celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony for Imperio Brazil on March 5.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — Imperio Brazil Grocery was welcomed to Chicopee with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 5 at its 128 Exchange St. location.
Owner Jeferson Lima owns another grocery store in Hartford but decided to open a second location after many customers requested to have a store closer to them.
Lima said, “I have another store in Hartford so a lot of clients or customers would say they traveled from Chicopee to the restaurant and that I should open a store in Chicopee so that is why I came here.”
Most of the products at Imperio Brazil are imported from Brazil from the hair products, produce, meats, candy and drinks.
There is also a butcher shop in the store.
“We have very, very good products and we are good people who take care of our customers. Imperio Brazil means Brazil empire. Here we want to bring good feelings and good products,” Lima added.
The store is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lima talked about his confidence in opening a new store that includes a lot of products that may bring a new taste to many people.
He said, “In Chicopee, there is a huge Brazilian population here and that is the reason we decided to open a business and make the community stronger. I know the field that I am working in, and I know we have a pretty good business here.”
Community members and local officials gathered at the ribbon cutting ceremony and Lima said the support he has already received from the Chicopee community has already been tremendous.
Lima said, “This support is everything because I opened another store in Hartford four years ago and I didn’t have this same support at first. Everyone is embracing us, and everyone is supporting us. I am so happy.”
Imperio Brazil Grocery is one of many businesses that has opened in downtown Chicopee, which is an encouraging sign, according to Mayor John Vieau.
“I am excited to try some of the new flavors brought from Brazil to Chicopee. The storefronts downtown are all filling in and really there is this renaissance happening where we are going to renovate our central library, we have these old mill buildings that have so much potential that hopefully someday will be a hub of activity that will need goods and services like the one [Imperio Brazil] will supply,” Vieau said.
