Campus Mart Now Open
1232 Storrs Road, Downtown Storrs
Mansfield Mayor Toni Moran (center) and Campus Mart owners Salah Abdulsamed (left) and Marwen Mahdi (right) celebrate the grand opening of the new store in Downtown Storrs with a ribbon-cutting on December 18, 2025.
December 18, 2025: Tucked in to the lower level of University Plaza in Downtown Storrs, a new business is welcoming community members with an eclectic mix of products at affordable prices. Campus Mart is now open at 1232 Storrs Road.
Owners and business partners Salah Abdulsamed and Marwen Mahdi brought their successful concept to Downtown Storrs after learning about an opening in the building and visiting the area. Mr. Mahdi opened his first “mart” style business in 2004. Mr. Abdulsamed soon joined in the venture, and the pair now own seven businesses in New York (in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx and on Long Island).
The new store offers a wide selection of international products, including organic drinks and snacks, among other items. Mr. Abdulsamed explained they look to offer unique items that are not found in local grocery stores.
Campus Mart is open daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday night. The late night hours complement their neighbor in the building, D. P. Dough, a long-time local favorite cooking up calzones into the wee hours of the night.
“We are happy to be open,” said Mr. Abdulsamed. “We look forward to welcoming the community to our store.”
Mr. Mahdi noted the pair have enjoyed their foray into Connecticut so far and are interested in expanding their concept further as opportunities arise.
Mansfield Downtown Partnership Executive Director Steven Ferrigno joined Mansfield Mayor Toni Moran in welcoming the new business owners to town. “We are excited to have Salah and Marwen join in our downtown business community,” commented Mr. Ferrigno. “Their store complements other services not just in University Plaza but also in Downtown Storrs.”
Mayor Moran thanked Mr. Abdulsamed and Mr. Mahdi for choosing to invest in Mansfield. “It is gratifying to see business owners continue to see the value in being here and investing their time, money, and energies into our community.”
“It is gratifying to see business owners continue to see the value in being here and investing their time, money, and energies into our community.”
“Downtown Storrs is home to a great mix of businesses, serving folks from many different walks of life,” said Mr. Ferrigno. With the opening of Campus Mart, there are now 73 businesses and organizations open and operating in Downtown Storrs. The diverse array of enterprises includes more than forty independent businesses and nearly a dozen locally-owned franchises. Several regional and national chains and non-profit organizations (such as the Partnership) round out the roster.
While the area was not immune to the economic challenges related to the pandemic, the commercial community has rebounded and is gaining momentum, noted Mr. Ferrigno. “In the past fourteen months, we’ve celebrated the openings of a dozen locations of new businesses and existing businesses who have expanded into new, larger locations in Downtown Storrs and around Mansfield.”
“Entrepreneurs recognize how attractive Mansfield is as a place to do business,” said Ferrigno. “Our unique blend of a vibrant, diverse college community and a quintessential New England town draws visitors from throughout Connecticut and beyond, providing great opportunities for creative concepts.”
Business owners interested in opening in or relocating to in Downtown Storrs or elsewhere in the Town of Mansfield are encouraged to contact the Mansfield Downtown Partnership to learn more about how Mansfield is your place to grow (mdp@mansfieldct.org, 860.429.2740).
“Entrepreneurs recognize how attractive Mansfield is as a place to do business. Our unique blend of a vibrant, diverse college community and a quintessential New England town draws visitors from throughout Connecticut and beyond, providing great opportunities for creative concepts.”
Campus Mart welcomes community members with an eclectic mix of products at affordable prices, including many international snack and beverage products. Campus Mart is now open at 1232 Storrs Road.
The Mansfield Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by the Town of Mansfield and the University of Connecticut in 2001. The Partnership seeks to foster the continued development, management, and promotion of Downtown Storrs – a vibrant and economically successful community in the heart of Mansfield. The Partnership assists in the future economic development of other areas within the Town of Mansfield deemed strategic by the Town of Mansfield, the University of Connecticut, and the Partnership Board of Directors.
Downtown Storrs is a vibrant, walkable downtown district in the Town of Mansfield adjacent to the University of Connecticut. Downtown Storrs is home to a diverse array of businesses, the town hall, community center, the regional high school, residential apartments and townhomes, public open spaces, and Betsy Paterson Square. For more information, please visit downtownstorrs.org.