Teranga World Market: Setting the Table for Greater Cincinnati’s Growing Ethnic Communities

Teranga World Market in Hartwell is a vital part of the community in Greater Cincinnati, serving as a hub for people seeking fresh beef, fish, spices, and produce from around the globe. But a devastating three-alarm fire swept through the retail business in March 2023, destroying the building and leading to $700,000 in damages. The fire left behind a loss deeply felt by the community, as shoppers were unable to stock up on ethnic flavors that reminded them of home and their favorite international destinations.

An Essential Piece of Cincinnati’s Diverse Community

The ethnic grocery is an essential piece of Cincinnati’s diverse, growing community. Recent population data shows a steady influx of international residents, with reports indicating international immigration accounts for 82 percent of the Tri-State’s population growth. Teranga World Market’s sister restaurant was established in the early 2000s and is a natural cultural center for Cincinnati’s international communities. Patrons of the Teranga restaurant initially flocked to the spot for its flavorful jollof rice dish from West Africa. Those diners quickly turned into shoppers at the international grocery, stocking up on its grilled lamb and fish, spices, produce, and dry goods. Teranga World Market grocery also offers its customers vital services like money exchange, travel arrangements, and translation services.

Mor Diallo, Owner, Teranga World Market

Owner Mor Diallo was determined to rebuild Teranga World Market and ensure that people seeking culinary staples from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean could depend on the ethnic grocery for fresh and flavorful ingredients. Diallo chose Cincinnati general contractor Kiesland Development Services to help revive the international retail space and open its doors once again. Kiesland is a commercial construction company with experience in building ethnic groceries, and the team was pleased to work with Diallo to rebuild this cultural hub.

Kiesland: A Contractor with Experience Building Ethnic Retail Spaces

The Teranga World Market project was a perfect fit for Kiesland’s capabilities as a contractor and design-builder. Kiesland has an experienced construction project management team with significant experience in retail construction. The Cincinnati commercial contractor partnered with Cincinnati-based Rod Sidley Architects and began work on the new Teranga World Market in February 2025, breaking ground on a 5,700 SF cold-formed metal-framed structure and steel mezzanine – a type of building commonly found in commercial construction. Kiesland also integrated enhancements like an updated, more spacious floor plan and modern refrigeration for fresh meats and produce. And Kiesland included a prayer room in the larger footprint, allowing people to join the call to prayer.

No two Cincinnati retail construction projects are alike, and Kiesland’s team knew that the new Teranga World Market project would present its own challenges. The site of the grocery is a tight, land-locked space, and the Cincinnati general contractor had to bring in a crane to support construction of the building while allowing other businesses in the vicinity to maintain operations.

Kiesland Development Services is Rebuilding Teranga World Market in Hartwell.

An Eye on the Finish Line

Kiesland’s construction management team has worked steadily through the spring and summer, even despite unseasonable rain and other challenges. Kiesland’s team expects to complete construction of the Teranga World Market in November 2025. It has been a steady process since the fire that destroyed the international grocery in March of 2023. Soon enough, customers will once again be able to find fresh meat and fish, as well as international spices, at Teranga World Market.

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