JB Global Market, located at 1200 London Rd., had been on the verge of closing earlier this year. Founder Joe Barkhouse, who opened the international grocery store in 2019, had cleared out the shelves after deciding to sell. The business had been losing money, and the plan was to close its doors for good. That […]
JB Global Market, located at 1200 London Rd., had been on the verge of closing earlier this year. Founder Joe Barkhouse, who opened the international grocery store in 2019, had cleared out the shelves after deciding to sell. The business had been losing money, and the plan was to close its doors for good.
That changed in April, when Sonia Ortiz, newly arrived in Sarnia, stepped in. Ortiz, who was already connected to Sarnia's international community through her educational consulting company, had been considering opening a small Latin-focused grocery store on her own. Taking over the existing space gave her a chance to put those plans into action.
“I was still new to Canada and thinking about what to do next,” Ortiz said. “I wanted a place where people could find the foods they grew up with. When this store became available, I decided to try.”
The takeover was not simple. The store sat empty, and Ortiz spent almost two months renovating and rebuilding inventory before reopening.
From the beginning, Ortiz has shared ideas and support with her best friend, Maritza Palominos. The two have known each other their whole lives in Mexico and have collaborated on many ventures over the years. Palominos now manages a full-time remote position with a global shipping company in Mexico but helps Ortiz at the store whenever possible.
“I became an immigration consultant but never worked in that role, especially with the changes to immigration rules,” Palominos said. “Helping Sonia with the market is a way to support the international community in a more meaningful way.”
Today, Ortiz and Palominos run the market with two part-time employees. When Ortiz travels weekly to Toronto or London to source specialty goods, staff keep the business running.
The store currently carries items from South America and Asia and is expanding its food sections from Vietnam, Thailand, and Jamaica due to increasing local demand. A key goal is to strengthen ties with local communities who may not have easy access to traditional ingredients.
JB Global Market has also introduced a hot food counter. From Monday to Saturday, tacos al pastor and beef tacos are available between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Birria tacos are served on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the same hours, while tamales are offered on Thursdays. Both the tacos and tamales have been well received. “They sell out quickly,” Ortiz said.
The pair see food service as an important part of the store’s future. They are considering cooking classes, tasting events, and other opportunities to bring people together.
“We want to make this more than just a store,” Palominos said. “Our hope is that JB Global can be the place where the international community and local Canadians come together through food and connection.”
For now, the focus remains on stability: keeping the shelves stocked, navigating shipping barriers, and carving out a niche in Sarnia’s grocery market.
“When someone comes in and says, ‘This reminds me of home,’ it feels worth it,” Palominos said of the challenging but meaningful work.
JB Global Market’s new chapter is still being written, and Ortiz and Palominos are determined to make it one that lasts.
