Sam's Caribbean Marketplace has a deep, proud, and rich history that is deeply rooted in Nassau County, New York, USA. Here, we are delighted to share some key milestones in our evolution.
September 1993: Andrew & Jean Morris registered Sam’s Caribbean Marketplace, Inc. as a NY State Corporation.
December 10, 1993: Sam’s opened its 1,600 square-foot retail store in the parking lot at 43D Main Street, Hempstead, New York. Rain, snow and sleet dampened our grand opening.
January 23, 1994: Both the NY Times and Long Island's Newsday newspapers published stories about Sam’s Caribbean Marketplace, on the same day. The NY Times called Sam’s a “hidden treasure.”
April 1994: Using a small toaster oven on loan from Jean's Mom, Sam’s launched its beef patty business, selling mostly to our neighbors at Nakisaki Jamaican-Chinese Restaurant. Over time, patty sales surpassed 250,000 units annually.
June 1994: Sam’s held its first Customer Appreciation Week.
October 17, 2000: The Wall Street Journal featured Sam’s Caribbean Marketplace on the cover of its "Marketplace" section.
June 2003: Sam’s launched its first online store, which was soon discontinued.
August 2003: Sam’s won the Jamaica National Overseas award for “Outstanding Performance in Volume of Money Transfer”.
September 2004: Town of Hempstead honored Sam’s with a Certificate of Recognition for Distinguished Service & Commitment to the Community.
June 2005: Sam’s launched www.Sams247.Com, our worldwide access to Sam’s Caribbean.
June 2006: Sam’s first Patty-Eating Contest.
June 2011: Hempstead Village honored Sam’s with its Community Service Award.
October 2011: Andrew Morris won the coveted Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce Outstanding Business Person of the Year Award.
November 2011: Sam’s received the Caribbean Heritage Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Innovation and Creativity, presented by the Long Island Caribbean American Association, Inc.
February 28, 2012: After 18 years, Sam’s moved from its Hempstead home to 225 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead, NY.
March 2012: By selling the most copies of the Gleaner newspapers, Sam’s won The North American Gleaner’s Honor Award for Outstanding Performance in Sales.
March 2012: Café on the Island, Sam’s in-store restaurant, began serving delicious “home-cooked” meals.
February 2014: Sam's launched its BreadAndButterExpress.com: the fast, easy way to send groceries and cooking gas to loved ones in Jamaica.
October 2015: The Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA), USA, honored Sam’s with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
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