Lynn welcomes Lakay

LYNN — Lakay Fresh Mini Market celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday.

The first Haitian market on Market Street is home to many items that are not readily available to the Haitian community, owner Regine Romelus said.

This includes items such as Lwil Maskriti (Castor Oil), Farine de Manioc (Cassava flour), Harina de Pana (Breadfruit flour), Couronne fruit champagne, and ragaman, an energy drink.

Vita Charles makes last-minute organizations to the shelves of Lakay Fresh Mini Market in Lynn ahead of the ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

Romelus said that through working with the Haitian community, by helping them with immigration paperwork and facilitating money transfers, she noticed there was a need for these items for the Haitian community of Lynn.

Kenel Joseph, co-owner of Lakay, said he was very excited to open the market and felt a lot of support from the community.

She added, “We realize that we can fill the need, and we were able to put this together, and we’re glad today that the whole community is actually supporting us with it.”

President, Founder, and CEO of North Shore Latino Business Association (NSLBA), Frances Martinez, said she was “Very, very fortunate that they decided to become a member of the Association for us to be able to provide that extra support for them to do this as well.”

On hand for the Lakay Fresh Mini Market ribbon cutting in Lynn was, from left, EDIC’s Justin de la Cruz, NSBLA Board Chairman Sergio Espinoza, NSLBA President, Founder and CEO Frances Martinez, Lakay owners Regine Romelus and Kenel Joseph, Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson, City Councilor Natasha Megie-Maddrey, and Amari Gaston from state Sen. Brendan Crighton’s offiice.

Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said he is “Very excited to have a wonderful new option across the street from City Hall and a resource for the Haitian community.”

Sergio Espinoza, chair of the NSLBA, said it is important for the Haitian community to feel welcome in the city.

“We are comfortable where somebody speaks our language. Having people here that also speak Haitian Creole is going to be really important,” Espinoza said.

He added that Lakay, being the first Haitian market in Lynn, is a big “first for the Haitian community.

“This is the first market where they can come and they can feel comfortable, they can communicate in their language, and they don’t have to feel that burden of translating,” he said.

Nicholson and Sen. Brendan Crighton’s offices provided the business with grand opening citations to welcome them to the City of Lynn.

According to Global Boston, the city’s Black population has grown, now representing about 14% of the total, fueled in part by an increase in Haitian immigrants and refugees from African nations.