Archive: Janani Inc., the Women-Run Indian Store That Opened in Naperville
From the TI archives — a community notice originally published September 2014.
JANANI INC. opened in Naperville as something unusual: an Indian grocery store that didn't restrict itself to Indian customers. Americans, Asians, and Hispanics had all taken to the store — early proof of how far Indian cuisine had traveled by 2014.
The store sat in the strip mall near the YMCA on 95th Street, next to Big Apple Bagel by Neuqua Valley High School. It was designed "Vastu"-compliant — the Indian art of harmonious living, cousin to Feng Shui — and traded on openness, warmth, cleanliness, and a calm, uncluttered ambience: the opposite of the overcrowded, chaotic Indian grocery stereotype.
Behind it were six women: Pooja Balsara, Brinda Bathia, Sangeeta Agarwal, Rama Bhatuvala, Hema Puri, and Neelam Saboo. Whether you needed basmati rice or jhumkas, a saree or a salwar, the store aimed to be the complete stop for Indian household and wardrobe needs.
The grand opening was September 27, 2014, with haldi kumkum and food — and the invitation asked guests to come dressed in Indian wear and meet the women entrepreneurs behind it. A small, warm piece of Naperville's Indian-American history.
Related Stories
Naperville Is Lit to the Hilt
In the pandemic winter of 2020, Naperville outdid itself with holiday lights — and one friend's hand-drawn maps turned it into a family touring tradition.
Peace March Against Terrorism — Naperville (Feb 18, 2019)
After the Feb 14, 2019 Pulwama attack killed 40 CRPF personnel, the Chicago-area Indian community held a candlelight peace march in Naperville.
I'd Like To — A Poem by Shlok Sharma
A poem by fifth-grader Shlok Sharma of Naperville — kung-fu dogs, heroes, and a monkey that sings. Kids' writing from the Thoughtful India archive.