Munji Kahalah, a graduate of The University of New Mexico (UNM), has established Monaco Market in Albuquerque, which is now recognized as the largest exotic snack store in New Mexico. The shop features a range of international snacks, including chocolates from Dubai, mango ice cream from China, and South Korean juice pouches that have gained popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Kahalah studied computer science and computational math at UNM starting in 2015. While he found these fields engaging, he became interested in broader applications of innovation. He enrolled in courses through UNM’s Innovation Academy (IA), which he described as pivotal to his development. “It was the total opposite of what I was doing on the engineering side,” Kahalah said. “Those courses were more hands-on and real-world. I enjoyed them a bit more because they were right up my alley.”
He credits mentors Robert Del Campo and Bill Szaroletta for shaping his approach to business. “Robert Del Campo was always in our corner,” Kahalah said. “And Bill Szaroletta really opened my eyes to how the internet and digital spaces were evolving. Both of them influenced how I think about business today.”
Monaco Market opened about three and a half years ago with the aim of bringing trending global snacks to Albuquerque. Kahalah explained his process: “My job is basically to scout what the internet is talking about,” he said. “I’m scrolling TikTok or Instagram, seeing what snacks are blowing up in big cities, and then figuring out how to bring that experience here.” He noted that while cities like Los Angeles, Miami, and New York already have similar shops, there was an opportunity to provide this experience locally.
“We have almost a million people here,” he said. “People want new experiences, and they’re craving that energy.”
Kahalah serves as Monaco Market’s creative director, combining pop culture trends with community engagement efforts. One notable project has been a partnership with New Mexico United soccer club to create a custom snack box for fans. “We wanted to create something new and exciting for the fans,” Kahalah said. “New Mexico United already has an amazing fan base, so we thought, how can we add to that experience in a fun way?” The collaboration has been ongoing for about six months.
Like many startups importing products from abroad, Monaco Market faces challenges such as import tariffs and logistics issues that affect purchasing decisions. “That’s just part of navigating entrepreneurship,” Kahalah said. “There are always unknowns.”
After graduating from UNM in 2020, Kahalah attended a machine learning and data analytics boot camp in Amsterdam over the summer to strengthen his technical skills for business decision-making purposes related to inventory management.
“I knew data was important,” he said. “With so many snacks, we needed a way to figure out what works and what doesn’t.”
He encourages students interested in entrepreneurship or innovation programs at UNM to keep their options open: “Entrepreneurship is a huge umbrella,” he said. “Start broad. Listen to people. You never know which niche might click.”
Reflecting on his favorite products at Monaco Market, Kahalah mentioned: “The mango ice cream and the South Korean juice pouches,” he said. “But honestly, go crazy. That’s the whole point.” He emphasized that Monaco Market aims not only to offer snacks but also curiosity-driven experiences accessible within Albuquerque: “You don’t have to fly to LA or New York,” Kahalah said.”You can come down the road, try something new and have fun with it.”
Monaco Market operates daily from 9am-9pm at 4400 Wyoming Blvd NE STE C in Albuquerque.
