Westfield Brandon mall's hijab store serves a growing need in Tampa Bay
The owner of DAZ Hijab said she opened her store because of a growing number of Muslim women who have few shopping options in the region.
Its never been easy for Eman Khalifeh to find modest and fashionable clothing as a Muslim woman.
So Khalifeh opened her own store to help the growing Muslim community in Tampa Bay find womens clothing and accessories. DAZ Hijab opened inside the Westfield Brandon mall in July. Its one of just a handful of stores in the Tampa Bay area that cater to this community.
DAZ Hijab began as an online store in 2014, Khalifeh said. When Khalifeh, who came to Tampa Bay from Denver, began researching a good place to open a brick and mortar store, Floridas Gulf Coast caught her eye.
There are around 18,000 hijabi women a term describing Muslims who wear a hijab head covering living in Tampa Bay as of about a decade ago, according to the Islamic Community of Tampa. With Tampa Bays accelerated growth, that number is likely higher today, said Hatem Fariz, the groups director.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/2021/11/09/westfield-brandon-malls-hijab-store-serves-a-growing-need-in-tampa-bay/