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Like many local Brazilians, Fátima Charlton traveled to Charlotte to visit two stores that carried products from her homeland.

Those store owners said a lot of customers came from the Greensboro area to buy products, even coffee.

At Easter , Charlton bought chocolate eggs filled with Brazilian candies from these stores and a distributor in Florida, then sold and delivered them to local residents. In all, Charlton said she sold 345 eggs.

“Instead of running here, there and everywhere, I came up with the idea to open the store,” Charlton said of her new business, Brazil Nuts, 127 Eastchester Drive, Suite 120, in High Point, which she opened June 1.

Many Brazilians live in the Triad area, Charlton said, She said she read reports that said there are as many as 3,000.

“I didn’t believe it,” she said. But after she opened her store, Charlton met many Brazilians.

“I’ve lived here 19 years,” Charlton said. “I never thought (the area) would have so many Brazilians around. Every week, there’s someone new in here.”

Instead of traveling to Charlotte, Brazilians and other Latinos can now stop by Brazil Nuts to purchase coffee, cookies, candies, drinks, spices and other native products they miss from their homeland.

“The outcome has been very good,” Charlton said. “I’ve been very busy.”

Non-Latinos are visiting, too.

“That makes me very happy,” she said.

Charlton frequently introduces customers to the tastes of Brazil with samples of candy or drinks.

“I usually give people a sample to try because many people have never heard of Brazilian products,” she said.

Charlton’s store is a center for cultural experiences, too. As soon as her beer and wine license is received — in September, she hopes — Charlton will start hosting music featuring Brazilian, bluegrass and other musical genres.

She’ll offer a Brazil Independence Day Festival from 4 to 8 p.m. Sept. 7 with music, games, food and door prizes.

Charlton’s goals for the business also include community involvement. She has set up a Blessing Box in the front of the store where customers can drop off canned food items and other donations for Open Door Ministries.

And every three months, Brazil Nuts will choose a local nonprofit to support. Proceeds from sales of rocks Charlton’s late father-in-law smoothed and polished will go to Hayworth Wesleyan Church Missions.

“I love to help people,” Charlton said.

As the business grows, she would like to help the High Point community, local hospitals and organizations that assist children and others.

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth. seagraves@news-record.com