Mascot Store, a beloved and longstanding bakery in Mokokchung, celebrated its grand reopening today with a new name and focus: Mascot Store and Café, dedicated to promoting organic coffee. The event was graced by Sentirenla Jamir, wife of the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, as the special guest.
Supong Longkumer, the original proprietor, shared the journey of Mascot Store and expressed his gratitude for the community’s support over the years. Due to his age, Longkumer announced that the proprietorship would be passed to his children, Aliamoa S Longkumer and Sanentila.
Aliamoa S Longkumer, the new proprietor, reflected on the 28-year history of the family business, acknowledging the challenges faced and the perseverance that led to its success. He emphasized that while the name has changed to Mascot Store and Café, the spirit and commitment to quality remain the same. He urged the community to continue their support as they embark on this new chapter, focusing on promoting the culture of drinking organic coffee.
Tsukti Longkumer, President of the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), congratulated the proprietors on the reopening and praised the store’s 28-year legacy of consistency and dedication.
He noted that the Mokokchung market is becoming one of the most affordable in Nagaland, largely because entrepreneurs are not paying unabated “taxes.” He added that, on average, the Mokokchung market has the “highest transactions.” He encouraged the proprietors to continue providing the same satisfactory service they have maintained for the past 28 years.
Sentinungla, District Project Officer of the Department of Land Resources, Mokokchung, stated that the Mascot Store and Café is unique in Nagaland. She highlighted that this initiative by the Land Resources Department aims to promote the habit of drinking coffee cultivated in Nagaland.
She explained that coffee plantations in Nagaland were first established in the 1980s by the Coffee Board and the Nagaland Plantation Crop Development Corporation (NPCDC), but these efforts were not successful. In 2014 and 2015, the Land Resources Department and the Coffee Board revitalized these old plantations, and now 600 hectares of land are dedicated to coffee cultivation.
In her speech, special guest Sentirenla Jamir congratulated the family for successfully running the Mascot Store for 28 years. She also expressed gratitude to the advisor of Land Resources, Government of Nagaland. She noted that people love Nagaland coffee, cultivated by local farmers, and expressed her delight that Mascot Store and Café Mokokchung will be one of the establishments promoting Nagaland coffee.
The program was chaired by L Temsu, Department of Land Resources, Mokokchung. The invocation was pronounced by Rev Temsuwati Kichu , associate Pastor, MTBA while the benedictory prayer was said by Shilula Imchen, Associate Pastor, Women, MTBA. The vote of Thanks was pronounced by M Bendangnukshi Longkumer Senior Advisor, MCCI.
